Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-06-11

Harding Receives Informal
NAL Assurances From
Several Powers
SENT TO HARVEY
President Will Net Try to Dictate
Foreign Peace observation-disclosures
Action of Congress

/ Washington, June ll.--President
/ Harding already is in possession of
( informal assurances from some OF
! the powers Of Europe that they are
! willing TO discuss disarmament or
| limitation OF ornaments with the
I Government of the United States.
These assurances, 1t was intimated
a. the White House yesterday after
noon, n::ve been received through
Ambassador George Harvey, the
American member Of the Supreme
Council, who was directed by the
presdcn; 10 sound other powers rep
resented in that body upon the gene
raj question Ct disarmng.
The h;ove which the President
made il, instructing Mr.. Harvey 10
put our feelers in the direction of
disarmament and the responses now
in hand which are not unfavorabie
to the general principle constitute the
Presidents answer to the questions
which have been raised in Congress
as TO his apparent unwillingnesS 20
have the House and Senate mix in
the matter.
1t is TIE Presidents belief, it be-
came Known this afternoon from Of
fetal sources, that his own advances
toward ~isarmamef arrangement
rlUs some eXg-es>iGn'from Congress
as to lis raae-.nes to see this brought
about, will probably expedite the
:al!ing Of some sort of international
.6nferences which will pave the way
FOR word wide reform in the matter
IF heavy ornaments.
President Hard ng, although ne
would rave preferred no Congress
,.onal action on disarmament at this
time and 80 indicated in his earlier
conversions with House and Senate
leaders, lex it be known today that
he Rad declined to stall the prog
ress through the House and Senate
Of the disarmament amendment to
the Naval Appropriation bill, which
/. now considered III conference, and
that he will take no part in the de-
haE between the two houses as to
TIE form which the Congressional
exprcsSlon will take.
At the same tire, it was authori-
tatively disclosed that the President
will not try to dictate the form that
teh reso ution declaring peace with
the Central Powers Of Europe shall
lake. Tie President will not concern
himself with the difference between.
the House and Senate over whether
the kc6x resolution or the Porter
resolution shall be adopted. This
difference is largely matter of
pride Of authorship on the part OF
The tw, leaders, the White House is
convinced.
The declaration Of peace by resolu-
ton is up TO Congress. The President
it is now known, starGs ready ard
waiting 10 sign any measure to that
end as soon as it CONES to him. There
was a reason, while the Preparations
Issue remained unsettled, why the
Administration wanted no precipi-
tate aeon upon the peace resolution,
but it vas stated today that the rea-
son no longer existed.
1t is realized, however, b. official
Washington that something Of an
anomaly is presented with respect tc
peace and disarmament. E'Mle the
President, at one end Of Pennsy:v-
ahia avenue, mindful # his cam
5aign pledge 10 respect :, =. Constitu-
ton pr"rogatives Of 4~cl branch Of
eng $, declines 10 :i%te 'fere with
the coi:rse Of action OF those bodies
in pending international matters.
Congressional leaders at the other
end OF the avenue are asserting pri-
vateIy that they find it difficult to
proceed because the President does
rot tell them what he wants. them
to do.
This, IT'S admitted, is a situation
which cannot endure If much is to
be accomplished at this session. The
President, it, il believed, will, find it
necessary to take : hand in the ac-
ton Of Congress or that body will
drift.