The Washington herald., 1920-11-04
HARDING WILL
SETTLE LEAGUE
ISSUEATONCE
;'irst Post-Election Confer
| ence Indicates Action Is
To Be Prompt.
ASSEMBLE TALENTS
Hill Mccormick on Mar
on Visit, Indicates Plan
OF Next President.
ASSEMBLE TALENTS
EREnERIc wrLLIAM VILE.

MARION, Ohio. Nov. 3.-President-
ct Warren G. Harding's inten-,
ms with regard to the league of
tions are foreshadowed by his
t post-eIection conference with a
publican leader.
he leader was Senator Medill Nc
mick, of Illinois, bitter-ender
irreconcilable in the l9l9-ls2O
ty battle between the Senate and
ident Wilson. Senator McCor-
would not discuss in detail of
visit to the President-e this
ming. but in an interview I had
him when it was over, the Sem
intimated strongly what may
e to be the impending course
vents.
l attempts to draw from the
ident-elect a statement of his
) with regard to the league are
ing futile. He refers inquirers
his campaign utterances and
ges, adding that those speak for
nseIves. AMONG them stressed
ue closing hours of the contest
i emphasis and frequency was
.tor Harding's declared inten-
in the event of election, to take
lsel with the best minds in
rica on the subject of a new
,rnity Of the nations. He some
called it an association. What
IouId eventually be entitled. the
|idste said. mattered little.
League Council Probable.
ased on what Senator McCor-
told me after being closeted
the major portion OF the fore
ION with the President-elect, 1t
',eems probable that the course Of
events at Washington after March
4 will be approximately this:
Senator Harding will summon to
his council chamber all the talents
m league issues. 1t is said at
triOn that their names are already
selected. He wants the issue sttled
speedily and finally. The men-and
wOmen-whOm the President-elect
will call into conference on a new
world order will represent all
shades of league opinion, pro and
con. Pro-leagus lambs will lie
down with auti-league lions.
Reservationists, mild reservation
lists, bitter-enders, battalionists of
death, irrecOncilables rejectionists
and representatives, of the undot-
ted-I and uncrOssed-T brigade are
all to be there.
Messrs. Taft, Root, Hughes, Hoov-
er. Wickersham. Strauss, Lowell.
Elliot perhaps even Gov. Cox, or
Woodrow Wilson himself will be
asked to give the new magistrate of
the Nation the benefit of their views
on the critical subject in hand.
Reservations First Point.
The task TO be submitted to the
council will be the
adoption of 'revisionaI reserva-
lions to the treaty of Versailles as
by President Wilson and
rejected by the Senate. Probably
the Lodge reservations will furnish
an initial basis of discussion. Ar
ticle Y will come ino question only
as a topic Of academic discussion.
The President elect is unequivo-
cally pledged not to submit to the
Senate any project for "a new
world order" that contains the
much discussed clause
When the Presidential council
has evolved "revisional reserva-
tions." the President may be ex-
~ 90 submit a treaty, or
So amended and modified,
.enate for ratification. 1t
ted that the council discus
will develop definitely that
''revisiOnal reservations"
Sured in advance the approval
important foreign powers.
Accord Among Nations
Senator Mccormick, in reply to my
uestiOn what was now going to
app46 to the league. said:
" know what is going to hap
pen. All of US have received in re-
cent times, in one way or another,
not official, but nevertheless direct
assurances that the great powers
are ready to agree with US on re-
vision Of the covenant of Versailles
That statement stands, official de-
malls from world capitals to the con-
.rary Notwithstanding The assur-
Inces, mind you, are not made by
he governments in question, or even
n their behalf, but they undoubted-
h reflect the governments view and
nGllndLlOnS. we hhO"s lOr Nudl
outh American states are not only
sreabIe to, but urgently want, re-
sion Of the covenant.
\ Warren Gamaliel Harding, Presi-
l ht-elect of the United States by
ace of one of the most stupendOus
ctOries in American political his
Try, became the first citizen of the
DrId today in modesty and humil-
+. When l saw him this morning
the temporary White House." as
IriOn now calls the front porch,
uttered a homespun pleasantly
'Hh illuminates the character of
man and is an augury of his
ser at Washington. Things will
ays be the same as you found
m here" the President-elect said.
little authority won't make any
erence."
Copyright, 1920, by Public Ledger co.,