Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-27
HARDING MAY LAY
LEAGUE PLAN HERE
Expected to Call Ambas.
sadorS to White House
Conferences.
BY ROBERT II. SMALL.

BY ROBERT II. SMALL.
MARION, December 27.-One of the
undetermined points in Senator Hard
fng's plan for "a new association Of
nations" is the manner in which the
other nations are to be approached
on tine subject. Nothing can be done.
Of course. until after March 4, when
Mr. Harding enters the White House.
While Mr.. Wilson still holds the
reins- of government the President
designate has no technical right to
deal directly with the representative
of any foreign government. That Mr.
Wilson is jealous of his privileges in
this respect clearly was shown in
the recent campaign, when Mr.. Hard
ing announced In a speech at Green
the French government would be
glad to have him lead in the forma-
tioA of the proposed new association.
All indications point to the fact
that Nj. Harding will be his own
agent in opening the necessary diplo-
to do things himself. When asked
some time ago il Senator Medill Nc.
Cormick of Illinois was in any sense
his representative at the moment in
Europe. the President-to-be replied:
Il have no representative in Europe
or in the United States. have no
representative in Asia, Africa or
Fat2goni2s-and you can say the same
thing for all the rest Of the world
Net to Delegate Authority.
Mr.. Harding does not believe in the
deleSation of executive authority any
n.pFe than he ever has believed in the
delegation OF congressional power.
And while 1T has been suggested he
might send .. commission abroad to
lssAsxltetas principal powers, It. il con.
ssidAAed faf more iikeIy-in fact, az
most certain--Mr. Harding will con-
duct in the White House all the nec-
essary preliminaries to the interna- :
tional launching Of his plan. He un-
questionably will begin by summon
ing. as soon after Inauguration day as
practicable, Sir Auckland Geddes, the
British ambassador. and Jules Jusse-
rand. am bass&dor OF France. Prob
ably the latterswill be first. ~ =
While Sir Auckland is a personal
friend OF the President-designate and
called upon him. when Mr.. Harding
was in Washington, NJ. Jusserand is
Ice. and the bonds which tie France
and the United States together are
generally accepted as being far
stronger than even the blood relation
ship, Of the American and British
peoples, 1t was essentially for
world war, and it would be the part
Of political as well as diplomatic wis
dom for Mr.. Harding to hold his first
formal conversations respecting the
new association for the promotion of
peace with the representative of
France at Washington.
Would Call Ambassadors.
In the natural order of events. Mr..
Harding. after outlining his views to
Ambassadors Jusserand and Geddes,
would call in the ambassadors Of Italy
and Japan. The start of the new as
sociation. if it should prove feasible
at all, would seem to rest therefore in
a reconstruction Of the so-called big
ffye"-the principal allied and asso-
ciated powerS'-which dominate the
treaty of Versailles and which, If the
United States were participating,
would form the permanent majority
Of the council or supreme governing
body Of the Wilson league of ma
tionS.
In this connection, however, there
has been some misconception OF the
remark made a few days ago by Mr..
Harding in connection with the pro-
posed opening Of negotiations with
the four big powers associated with
the United States in the war against
the central empires. In certain quar-
ters his statement is being inter
preted as meaning he would form
what might be termed a peaceful al
ltance" with France. Britain, Italy
and japan, to force peace on the rest
OF the world.
AS a matter of fact. there is nothing
Of force or coercion in anything Mr..
Harding purposes to do. The impress
sion, he intended to convey was that
r. he could get the four big powers
inst mentioned in line for his plan
the other nations of the world would
find it agreeable TO mem ana would
narts of the new association. Mr..
In riding believes there is q psychol-
ogy of, leadership among nations just
as there is among men. Through his
consultations with the best minds
Of this country. Mr.. Harding expects
n create an intellectual lead" which
viii carry the American people with
II An agreement among the United
states. France. Britain, Italy and
japan would. it Is believed. have the
same effect upon the world
wants An Nations Interested.
senator Fall Of New Mexico, mem.
her of the foreign relations commit
tee. and close personal friend Of Sem
.tor. Harding, declared when he was
in Marion he would never agree to
anv association or conference" of
the nations unless every nation in
the world was to be admitted on an
equal footing. s--
Mr.. Harding's whole plan distinctly
ia a compromise. Former, President
Taft indicated that most clearly when
he was here. and said the plan would
Of either end Of the league OF ma
fions issue. The observation-disclosures
evidently is going to try to. continue
to. hold the .pro-leaguers. and the
anti-leaguers together. as he sue
ceeded. not without great difficulty,
in doing in the. campaign. What win
happen in this direction when it
Coynes to stranslating words into deeds