Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
TALK OVER CABINET
TST|[L DOPE SAY
INFORMEDLEADE
Senators Believe Certain
Embarrassments" May Pre-
/ clude Hughes Accepting.
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

/ met dope" by informed republican SEN
atvrs. some of whom have conferred
with President-elect Harding lately.
Exception is not made even in the case
of Charles E. Hughes for Secretary OF
State, and it is contended that while
the appointment is probably open to
him, there are attached to it certain
embarrassments which may preclude its
acceptance by him. Many senators
conversant with the situation are I'M
able to perceive how he can take the
place without a certain degree of stulti-
fication of his known views on the
league of nations
The facts in the case of Mr.. Hughes
position are said to be these: That
upon the first suggestion of his possible
1 selection the irreconcilable senators OBJ
jected, on the ground that he favored
using the existing covenant of the
league to build the new association of
/ nations on. Thereupon they were as
sured that it is not Mr.. Harding's in
tention to avail Of the existing COW
enant, and that if Mr.. Hughes should
accept, it would not be indication of a
leaning toward the league as now con-
stituted.
Loyal to Avowed Principles.
Senators construed that assurance to
mean that Mr.. Hughes would then be
counted upon to abandon his well
grounded convictions in the premises
for the honor of the appointment. and
somehow that suggestion "does not
sound like Hughes" they say. His
whole career has borne testimony to te-
nacious holding to convictions once
reached and loyalty to principles
@avowed
When they get right down to cases
; republicans of prominence who have
/ talked with President-elect Harding
! recently and exclaimed notes agree in
the impression that he has not thus
far decided upon any definite solution
of the league of nations problem, be-
yond determination not to use the
Iexisting covenant as the framework
for an alternative proposition. They
concur in the belief that he is still
cropping his way. pulled and hauled
by this and that faction. his steps
guided by sincere intent to secure
harmony in the party.
Penrose Sounds warning.
And here comes Senator Penrose,
unquestionably potential factor in
Senate leadership. on the first day of
resumption OF activity in Senate af-
fairs. sounding a warning that the
70 tal
tary of State, whomsoever he may be,
dictation upon this great question.
Which is by way of saying to the
President-elect. over the head of the
yet unsolicited premier, that the Sem
ate will have the last say and exer-
else its judgment-quite right and
proper. of course. and according to the
Constitution, it is admitted
Thereby is brought up the very
thing Mr. Harding desires to avoid.
sclash between the executive and the
Senate. He seeks to do it through pre-
liminary conferences to sound out the
sentiment in the Senate and compose
the issue with differing views enter
tanned elsewhere than IN the Senate
All the time he is confronted by
certain cold facts and the logic of
The league of nations is an estab-
lished fact to those nations con-
shutting it. Presentation to them
Of another project by the United States
carries the suggestion that they aban-
don theirs and adopt the new one in
lieu. 1t may be like summoning spirits
from the vastly deep. Will they come?
senators query.
However. that is held to be a sec
ondary consideration for the moment,
the first being to decide upon propo-
sition which the Senate will accept.
And the President-elect is admitted
to have his hands full in handling
that phase at the present.
Alternate Plan Proposed.
In view of the difficulties over
/. burdening the case. the proposal is
to be made in the Senate of an alter
native plan, or rather sort of dou-
. ble-header suggestion, to declare peace
with Germany. coupled with assertion
OF the willingness of the United States.
in event Of a crisis in the future such as
. that Of 1914. to join with other nations
to suppress the disturber and maintain
the peace of the word. and offer Of an
agreement for disarmament by the great
powers.
Senator Knox has drawn up the
form of this offer, contained in these
words:
1T is the declared policy of the
United States, in order to meet fully
and fairly our obligations to our
selves and to the world, that the
freedom and peace of Europe being
again threatened by any power or
combination of powers. the United
States will regard such a situation
with grave concern as a menace to
its own peace and freedom. will con-
suit with other powers affected with
a view to devising means for the re-
moval Of such menace, and will, the
necessity arising in the future, CO.
operate with the friends of civiliza-
tion for it's defense"
Aid without ENLIGHTENMENT.
1t is argued in behalf of this pro-
posed combination of peace with
Germany and declaration of willing.
ness to again go to war to achieve
the object of the league of nations
protection against aggression-that i,
leaves the nations now in the league
of nations to keep that organization
for their own satisfaction. yet assur-
ing them of this country's sympathy
and aid. without the United States