The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
FRIENDS OF LEAGUE
 FIRST ID GET EAR
 OF NEXT PRESIDENT
Hoover Thinks Americans Must Make Permanent invest mentS in Europe to AS-
 sure Prosperity
By ROBERT T. SMALL


 Marion, O., December 13.- Special. Whatever may be the ultimate resolution of Pres ident-elect Harding respecting the League of Nations, his early conferences on the subject all have had to do with persons who believe that the future of the United States is tied up with the best that Europe has to offer in the way of an inter- national understanding.
 Strong pressure is being brought to bear to sway the President-eect away from any arrangement with European powers. but Mir. Harding continues to consult with those who have had exper- fence abroad and who bring to his counsel of 'best minds their contact with European affairs.
 Elihu Root, summoned out recently by 'A~ Ae<-eo uC VI -NdltOliS u EJtIp the international tribunal which often has been referred as the supreme court of the League of Nations. completed to- day trinity of minds committee called to the idea of an association or a league having for it's purpose the peace of the world.
 LIKE LEAGUE IDEA Charles Evans Hughes, ieroert Hoover and MT. Root. all have committed them selves to the League of Nations idea and all three have had the advantage of the first formal talks with the man who on March 4, next, will assume executive di- rection of the United States of America It rlray or it may not be the plan of MT. to hear one at a time the diff ferent schools of thought respecting the international relations of the United States, but in any event it cannot be denied that those who first have had their say with him are those who be- Iieve in some sort of international as- of nations,
 MT, Hughes. who is being prominently as the next secretary of state; MT. Hoover, insistently referred to as a cabinet possibility, and Mir Root. who could have almost any position of prom hence he desires in the next adminis- tration, have first had the ear of the next President.
 HARVEY ON THE SCENE
 Friends of the League of Nations idea, while citing these incidents. have been confronted by the fact that during the conference of the last few days the most intimate man with Senator Harding has been Col. George Harvey. an mpacabie Foe of any association of sas.ais-sss. sHs-ra-sr wisaSE l.as lrsfnpeaned 4i itsse ksdesi- Wilson and ts~s.rvone sxtsociated with the peace n reetings at Paris and Versailles Col Dnel Harvey is continuing as a guest If Senator Harding while the friends of the league are being heard The in- rlIence therefore, that the friends of the eague would be supposed to exercise with MT. Harding. is being offset by the dose personal contact between the next President and man known the country over as foe of all that the League of Nations has to offer.
 During the past three days MT. Hard ng has heard much from those who be- ieve that in the League of Nations, as formed at Versailles and today at Ge- 1eva, there is much that the United States might accept, while at the same lime keeping this country clear of any invented European alliances. Still MT. Harding has been loath to commit him self. Today he is the listener. the ab- ;orber willing to take in all that may oc offered. but reluctant to express his )wn views on the situation.
 LIKES ROOTS ATTITUDE
 MT. Harding has been known to lean seenly toward the court idea which Mir. Root represents. 1t was reported last summer that MT. Harding might adopt he Root court scheme as his own solu- ton of the international problems of America but when MT. Root came home L was seen that the court he helped establish while abroad was tribunal Lextrica.bly interwoven with the GOV ,nant of the League of Nations. The 'ormer Secretary of State. during the formulation of the court idea, had an op- ,ort,inity to consult with the .'best ninds'' of Europe on the subject and it .as for this reason Mir. Harding desired Tn interview with him at the earliest possible moment.
 Mir. Hoover during his stay in Maricn ct it be known rather plainly that the ecent election had altered his mind in 10 respect as to the desrability of the United States entering 8 league of na- ions MT. Hoover believes that the ex- sting League of Nations offers the best for America to co-operats with the rest of the world. He knows hat the league, as signed at Versailles s not all that it ought to be- and he Ioes not advocate the entrance or America into that league without reser- ,ations which will make the attitude nd obligations of this nation absolutely lear
 Mir Hoover believes that the United ,tates, as a great producing nation, and Ls the great storehouse. of natural re- ources in the world, owes something to he other nations. He has not been flat cred by .'cabinet talk into agreeing with anything he thought the President feet would like to hear. Rather. he las been inclined to hold aloof and to indicate to MT. Harding the perils to his nation which lie in the unrest and he ;rstabiIity abroad.
 MOWERS IDEAS DIFFER
 MT. Hoover takes no stock in the heory that the present undesirable eco omical situation in the United States an be met and altered by mere ex- ension of so-caled consumption cred ts'' abroad He says that if we merely end to Europe sufficient funds to buy ertain commodities from the United 'tates. nothing is gained. The money involved is merely turned over" in this ountry, while Europe is consuming cer- ain of our stores. He would rather see he United States invest money abroad. n public utility concessions. the build- ag of railroads and the development of resources than in the mere financing of crop movement during the ext few months. In other words. Mir Tooyer believes that if the United States ; to maintain it's position abroad it must end it's money abroad, just as England ant ffs surplus money to this country