Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-02
SadELL-SHOCKr AND OTHER
MATTERS

- There seems to be so little of any
= good reason for objection to the atti-
oeude Of the administration toward
the effort to obtain further infornaa-
ton respecting Germany's ability to
bay PREPARATIONS one is forced to the
tccnclusion that objections are really
based on something else.
The hysterical splurge OF Senator
SMedill Mccormick on the foreign pol
~aey of the Coolidge administration
as a matter of fact it is but con-
s, tinuance of the Harding policy-is
easily discernible: Hiram Johnson
has for months been uncasily waiting
for an opportunity to launch his
. Neat it, Nothing feasible could be
found other than the policy Of isola-
ton to which SenatHr Johnson was
committed. He possibly was render
ed a bit more Uneasy seeing another
snatch prohibition for an issue. That
uneasiness seems to have been i'm
parted undiluted to the Honorable
,Medill Mccormick, who also is sus-
pected of having ambitions Of his
own.
1T is not to be expected that Pres
( jdent Coolidge or his secretary Of
state will feel it incumbent on them
to issue a statement. Their attitude
by this time ought to be plain. 1t is
that which has been maintained since
Secretary Hughes first made the sug-
gestion, Mr.. Harding then being
President. 1t is the opinion of ex-
sctalent authority that what has been
done has been well within the prov
irce of the executive department and
calls for no action by Congress. Had
the matter been less significant than
the important one of Preparations and
world stability Secretary Hughes
suggestion would have accustomed no
surprise. and some think it would not
now were it not for possible politi-
cal capital to be made out of it.
The situationAis we'll expressed, in
part, in the following from a news re-
port in The Washington Post:
'1she Hughes program, which has
been adopted, is simply a suggestion
to the powers as to the best way to
solve the reparation problem. 1t in
wolves a committee of experts to act
in an advisory capicity by determin-
~ ing how much Germany can pay and
how she can pay. The American rep
resentative or Representatives on the
advisory committee will not tech
nfcally represent the United States
government and their advice will not
y commit the United States. Their du-
ties will be to give. facts and figures
and permit the governments con-
''Cernad Ito form. policies on the basis
OF these facts and figures.
-. If the executive should later come
:. IT, the Congress with recommends
tions as to any action based on these
facts. it would admittedly be the duty
or Congress to scrutinize c1nsely and
Accept or reject the recommends
lions. But officials do not believe it is
= necessary for Congress to deal with
matters which have not even been
sformulated Or worked Out. Further
more, the prevailing view here is
that there is no real opposition to es-
efablishing tho amount Germany can
pay and the most practical methods
! OF payment, so that this information
/ may serve az guide to all govern
! ments for whatever future action
/; they may deem it wise or unneces-
A. sary 10 take ..
I In view of all the circumstances
Senator Borah made very apt COM
ment when he said of this agitation.
in which Senator Mccormick so
: prominently figures: Some of the
} senators who were in the League of
cations fight are. still suffering from
shell shock"