AMERICA’S POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1922, Page 5

AMERICA’S POLICY.

DOMESTIC TASKS FIRST. PROHIBITION PROBLEM. By Telegraph.—Press Awn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 10, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Dec. 8. President Harding hag sent a message to Congress outlining the most extensive legislative programme for many years. Presumably answering M. Clemenceau, President Harding in effect declared that. America had not shirked and would not shirk her international obligations. She would not permit, an infringement, of American rights anywhere, but the Government would not engage in treaties, armed alliances or any commitment; where either a council or an assembly of leagued nations may chart America’s course. The President emphatically called on the nation to uphold the prohibition amendment, declaring that the conditions relating to its enforcement savors of a nationwide scandal. He denounced those who will break down the prohibition law as breeding contempt for a law which would ultimately destroy the Republic. He as-

serted the prohibition enforcement problem was not a demoralising factor in America’s public life. The President predicted that the prohibition amendment never will be repealed. He intends to call a conference of State Governors to work out definite policies for administering the law. Domestic legislation recommended includes enlargement of the powers of the farm loan board to provide ample agricultural and livestock and production credits; secondly, Government operation does not afford a -cure for transportation ills, and the railways ought to be merged into a few systems, equipment, being pooled; thirdly, the abolition of the Railway Labor Board and the substitution of the four-man tribunal, with an interstate commerce commission; fourthly, anti-strike measures tq provide the enforcement of this decrees; fifthly, a constitutional amendment against child labor; sixthly, a plan to draft the entire nation’s resources, in war time. Lastly, the President urged a law for the registration of aliens, declaring that many are abusing America's hospitality. President Harding promised broad-mind-ed use of the flexible provisions of the new tariff, stating the United States does not contemplate commercial aloofness or any other alooofness, which is contrary to the best American traditions and the loftiest human purposes. He hoped the world would not get the impression that because America is attending to domestic problems she is unsympathetic or unmindful of her international duty. "We would,” he said, “rejoice to help to rehabilitate the currency systems and facilitate all commerce which does not drag us to the very level of those we seek to uplift.”