Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-25
HARDING AND
TAFT TALK
Of PEACE:
i. PLAN
President Elect and Former
President Discuss Possible
Means of Averting Wars
in the Future
NO CONFERENCES ARE
SCHEDULED FOR TODAY
Senator and His Wife Will
Eat a Christmas Dinner
With Newspaper Men, In
vited AS Their Guests

Marion, O., Dec, 24,-President-
elect Harding's last conference on
the proposed society of nations be-
fore casting aside political affairs
to enter into the Yuletide spirit and
it's activities was held today. with
former President william II. Taft,
whose ideas as to the league of ma
tions have not always conceded
with those of the new party leader.
Mr.. Taft arrived here early this
morning from Chicago and had
breakfast with Senator and Mrs.
Harding. Then they began a con-
ference which continued until al
most noon, when Mr.. Taft left for
Cincinnati, where he will spend
Christmas with his brother,
Charles p Taft, his son, Robert,
and other relatives.
Neither the former president nor
the president elect would discuss
the result of the conference. Mr..
Taft, however, gave out "A formal
statement in which he discussed
the senator's views on the Ver-
sailles league and the proposed
society of nations advocated by
Senator Harding. No intimation
was given that cabinet positions
were discussed,
Mr.. Taft's Statement.
Mr.. Taft'a statement follows
II enjoyed very much my con-
ference with Senator Harding !
found that he had been using the
conferences with his visitors to
formulate and confirm the general
views he expressed in his speech of
acceptance and that of August 2S,
and that he felt confident that the
desire of the American people as
interpreted by him in his campaign
experiences and In the results of
election, was to avoid the political
and military obligations of the
treaty and the league, but that he
feels strongly the necessity for
reaching a common ground with
the leading powers of the world for
an agreement that shall secure a
gradually effective limitation of ar
mament, a court with jurisdiction
over justiciable questions, and a
conference Of nations to negotiate
and press a compromise of every
non iusticiable question threaten
ing war ard which will give us the
benefit of the adjustment of our
relations with Germany secured to
the United States in the treaty
without Objectionable features of
the provisions Of the treaty as
shown in the republican reserva-
tions and without participation in
such commissions under the treaty
as concerns European nations.
Is Much Encouraged.
"I am much encouraged to think
that the senator is working out a
practical solution which may not
be wholly satisfactory to the en-
thusiasts at either extreme, OF
whom may be considered one, but
will satisfy those anxious to make
progress and anxious to give the
United States the leadership she
should have in guiding all the ma
tions to permanent peace as far
as this is practicable. OF course,
the senator is properly chary of o
definite program because 1t must
depend on the circumstances
which only actual conferences with
| all concerned may develop. but
that he Is bent on working out In
a very practical way, real and
| useful association is most appar-
ent. He is in an accommodating
state of mind as to details and
even important provisions, If the
definite objections he always ex-