The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-14
.PRESIDENT-ELECT AND
VISITOR ARE SILENT
Colonel Harvey Renews Pro-
posal for Agreement Of
Nations On War
Referendum

Marion. O.. Dec 1G.-rresidon eject
Harding to-day discussed IN" problems
OF his administration with E,thu. for
mcr secretary ot stat" aud one Of tho
most noble OF the u;Itlon'S elder states
mon.
International relations and the pros
pect for an acceptable word peace as
$oc:ation held tn" center of attention
IN their four hours talk Mr. Harding
drowning rNhauSt!IrIr upon tho recent
experience of his visitor rs an adviser
abroad in the formation IF a world
court under the Versailles league. The
PreSident-eiect asked many questions
about details OF the court rlan and
about the present attitude Of European
statesmen toward the league.
Little Revealed.
What advice Mr.. Root gave with re-
gard - reservations of the framework
Of ~" league was not revealed. nor
won:d e,.ther comment on the rSHl,s Of
tho conference except to say that no
conclusions had been reached.
1t was indicated that Mr.. Harding
was attempting to form no opinion for
the prcSrn; but was content to gather
information and advice.
Co.nCtdrnt with Mr.. Roots VISIT Il
became known that Colonel George llar-
rey, the New York editor who has been
the guest Of the Pres .dcat-e!eCt sine"
saturday. IS urging NJ. Harding 20 ad-
yccate n world agreement that no nation
would reSor: 20 offensive warfare untN
it people had So decided by referendum.
Colonel Harvey did not indicate 70 what
degree hts proposal had been approved
but he expressed hops that some such
provision would b. written into any
world association sponsored by the COM
ing administration.
War Referendum.
Tho war referendum propose! has
been advanced. many times during the
peace treaty fight, and Serera! reSrrEa-
tions emhodyinG I were introduced IN
. the senate. One OF its leading adEo-
Gates has been William J. Bryan. who
IS 70 confer with Mr. Harding, Friday.
After his talk with the Prcsidnt-elect.
Mr. Root would make no statement en-
cept to say that tho interview had been
very delightful and interesting. IN
reply TO repeated questions on specific
subjects he reverted ~ his original de-
. script:on Of the conference. giving no
indication whether domestic problems
or such subjects aS cabinet appoint
mcntS were discussed. Except for the
cordial manner uf the conference his
visit threw no lignt on reports that ne
might be asked 10 become secretary OF
! state in the Harding administration.
Would Affect 200 Treaties.
| In presenting ,the details % the new
/ world court which was unanimously
! adopt ed to-day by the assembly OF III"
! Can!zatIon of which has ben submitted
! TO the league assembly, the former sec
| retary Is understood to have suggested
that a side rable step toward peace
might be taken by amending arbitration
, trea ties the world over so that justifi-
able questions Weuld all heNreterred to
the tribunal for decision. There are
about 200 such treaties now IN existence
/ but most OF them provide for decisions
by temperament commissions OF rarl-
| Gus characters.
! He added that the court as planned by
! the commission OF which n" was a mem.
, Der probably would not prevent wars or
policy, such as the recent world war,
! but would go long way toward remoH-
, ing the element of danger from QueS.
! lions arising from rca. difference or
opinion. The court. h" explained would
have jurisdiction only when both Nti-
gants agreed 10 put their quarrel in IT'S
! hands.
; In all Of his contemplation of a world
! association OF nations. Mr.. Harding mas
had In mind som" such international
| court. and. in outlining his campa .cn
policy on the League. he suggested that
! the Hague tribunal might furnish IN"
basis for such an institution. The
! Hague court i not permanent one.
however. and has NOR" tn" aspect Of a
I d!plom.ttIC conference than o; l"ga!
IS blishnent.
Tomorrow tho rrcSidcnt-eleCt VIII
: talk over the league and other questions
. with Governor William g. Sprou. or
PENNSYLVANIA, and ". W. Att"rbu-y
! vice president of the Pennsylvania rail-
road who was head of the American
governments railroad system IN France
during the war