RESTORING EUROPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1922, Page 5

RESTORING EUROPE.

MR. BORAH'S PLANS. OPPOSED BY PRESIDENT. SEPARATIONS FIRST. FUNDING FOREIGN DEBTS. (By Cable.—Trees Association.—Copyright.) fHfvoiveii 1 p.m.t WASHINGTON, December 28. President Harding has written to Senator Lodge. He declarer that the passage of the Borah resolution requesting an economic and disarmament conference was undesirable, because of the false impression which may be conveyed to Europe. It was even more undesirable because of the wrong impression it conveyed to the American people. Sir. Harding stated that it would be futile to call such a conference until he teemed whether such a move would be welcomed by other nations. If Congress desired to be helpful in the present lituation it should modify the laws preventing American representation on the Separations Commission and prohibiting the American Debt Commission granting more liberal funding terms to America's debtors. Settlement of the reparations question must underlie any economic rehabilitation of Europe, but the United States would never say to one nation what it should pay or to another what It should accept.

The President indicated that he reeented Mr. Borah's move on the ground that it seemed to assume that the executive branch of the Government was not fully alive to the world situation, which was a deep concern to the United States.

Mr. Harding continued: '"The European nations do not share in the L"nit«d States' view that the foreign debt question is distinct from reparations. It is wholly inconsistent to invite a conference for the consideration of questions in dealing with which the Government denied all authority by Congress. Mr. Harding stated that the limitation of land armament was impossible at the present time, and as to further limitations on naval craft, euch as restriction on the construction of auxiliary craft submarines and aircraft as the House proposed, such action was desirable, but it would be better to postpone such a step until France and Italy act on the Washington Conference Treaties."'

Diieussing Mr. Harding's letter in the (Senate, Mr. Borah asked whether the President's suggest ion that Congress free the hands of the Foreign Funding Commission was a request to Congress to give the commission unlimited latitude.

Mr. Lodge, who conferred -with Mr. Harding this morning, replied that the Pretident had in mind greater latitude for the commsson on two ponts—rate of interest and length of time within which the debt was payable. No consideration was given or would be given to the cancellation of the debt. The President's letter will seemingly bave no effect on the Senate situation, Mr. Borah having expressed his determination to fight the issue to a finish, though he admitted that the Administration appeared to have the better of the Parliamentary situation at the moment, and might defeat him.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) WAR THE ALTERNATIVE. SENATOR BORAH'S VIEW. AMERICA'S DUTY TO EUROPE. (Received 1030 a.m.! WASHINGTON, December-28.

Prior to Senator Lodge reading to the Senate the letter forwarded to him by the President, .Senator \V. E. Borah niwwercd Senator Lodge's argument on this land disarmament proposals, declaring that unless the reparations question wae settled, and with it tbe limitation of armaments confirmed and broadened, war was again imminent. "It'e an American question, not a European one," he said. "Our prosperity, safety *nd future are all involved. That 13 rty we should meet and settle it. The United States is now more deeply involved in European affairs than ever in its history. To 1 ail practical purples, the American Government is helping Europe to administer the Versailles Treaty. We have an army on the Rhine four years after the war; why is the army there? The fact ie, *c are doinsr exactly what the Treaty which France prdposed would have found us to do. that is, guaranteeing the territorial integrity of France." Mr. Borah asked Mr. Lodge why the American troops were on the Rhine, llr. Lodge replied that he did not know. ■Mr. Borah said: ,- I know, .because we •uhotituted men with arms for our failing to ratify the Versailles Treaty."

.Mr. Borah declared that if there «hould he an outbreak at the Rhine bridgeheads American troops would be the first ,to be fired on, drawing America into another European war. 'Jlr. Lodge interjected that one reason the troops were left tliere was because German)- wanted them. Personally, he thought they should be withdrawn. 'Mr. Borah snapped: "Everybody thinks that, but no one win vote to have them withdrawn." Mr. Borali went on: "I venture to say if the present conditions continue for another fear in Europe there will 'be a conflict which is sure to draw in the larger nations of Europe, and I don't believe *c could long remain out of any sucn disturbance." Mr. Eorah pointed out that the proposed conference could not take official action regarding the funding of the war debts, because that power wa n already allocated to a Special Commission now functioning.— {•A. and X./S. Cable.)