The Colorado statesman., 1921-07-16
ADMINISTRATION is WORKING
ON ITS PLAN FOR AN Asso.
CITATION OF NATIONS.
PEOPLE ASKING FOR ACTION
Not Even an outline Has Yet Been
Put in Writing, But Secretary
Hughes Has Been Busy in the Mat
ter.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.


indications Of n rather specific nature
that such Is to be the case.
There are evidences In Washington
that there is not so strong desire
today as in the Immediate past to give
so detinitve a name as the "Associa-
ton of Nations" to the plan which
the President and his secretary of
state have In view. Whatever the
policy in connection with foreign af-
fairs Is to be, IL is understood that
Secretary Hughes today is working on
the matter with certain ends In view.
From time to time letters have come
to Washington from various parts OF
the country, most of them going 10 the
White House, asking If something Is
to be done soon with a matter which
has occupied the people in one way or
another ever since the armistlce was
signed. 1t is held here that the evil
dent interest of the country, as shown
in letter form, Is not responsible at
all for the evident quickening impulse
on the part of the officials to do some
thing. 1t is declared that their de-
termination to act was fixed some
time ago and that action simply was
waiting on what seemed to be the
proper time.
The United States senate holds men,
bers who are kindly disposed toward
IN association of nations of the kind
which President Harding more than
hinted at in his speech of acceptance
of the nomination. There are a few
Republican senators who do not want
an association of nations any more
than they want the League of Nations.
Then there is another group of sena-
tors, Republicans for the main part,
who want something done in the way
of foreign policy which will bring
the United States into accord with its
recent allies, but they are not quite
sure lust what form the plan should
take on.
Hughes Making Some Progress.
1t is admitted directly in high quar-
ters that nothing has yet been put on
paper TO outline, or even to suggest an
outline, of an association of nations
plan. This does not mean, however,
that mentally a plan has not been
formulated. Mr.. Hughes has been
more or less busy In the matter and
it Is known that some of the greater
foreign nations have feen questioned
with view of finding out whether
or not they would be willing to become
parties to an association of nations
along certain lines, even If its forming
virtually should mean a reputation
of the present League of Nations.
Now that 1t is known that other
nations have been felt out on this
subject, interest has been expressed
in Washington as to why the feeling
out" should have been done without
submitting with the queries some
thing concrete concerning the plan in
mind The general impression is, how
ever, that the communications TO the
foreign offices of other countries sim
ply have been in the form of intima-
tionS that the United States would
like to do something If the other ma
tions eventually would give the prop
osition consideration.
To some Washington officials 1t
seems like work of supererogation
on the part of the state department
to ask other nations whether they Will
give consideration to proposition
emananting from the United States.
No nation would decline to promise
to think over any matter which the
United States should submit.
Hope for German Treaty Soon.
There seems to be an impression
here that as soon as the Knox resOlu-
ton, or its substitute, is adopted, de-
Of lei r.
with Germany and treaty has been
effected with the German government,
the American administration will i'm
medlately proceed with its association
of nations plan. The hope of the high
officials seems to be that there will
not be much more delay in the work
of getting the resolution and the trea-
ty out of the way.
If must be confessed, however, that
there is a cloud of DOUBT hanging over
the future foreign relations situation.
If is being asked whether if an as
socintiun of nations shall be formed,
it will be necessary absolutely for 9TH
er nations to leave the present league
to which they have given sanction.
1t is held by some members of the
dominant party that any association
of nations plan which can be accepted
must keep whole existing provisions
in the Versailles treaty which are in
tended to make it certain that Ger
many will fulfill her obligations. OF
course it is possible that this can be
done in a way through the treaty of
peace between the United States and
Germany, but it is held also that some
of the necessary safeguarding things
must be provided for in the plan for
an association of nations If such an
association is to he formed.
Dawes to Direct Budget.
The budget is to go into operation
Charles G. Dawes of Chic 20, briga-
lior .rnnernl In the 4. ID. II. and