New-York tribune., 1921-05-23
Councils Suit
Harding as
Association
League idea Is Expected
to Die of hamilton as
Premiers and Ambassa-
doris Fulfill Its PURPOSE
By Carter Field

W WASHINGTON, May 22.-President
Harding's desire, frequently expire ssed
during the campaign, for an associa-
tion of nations, is entirely satisfied,
according to some Of his most intimate
advisers, with the present Supreme
Council and Council of Ambassadors
Speculation on what is to become of
the League of Nations and what will
be done toward setting UP the much
discussed association of nations has
become rife since the speech of Colonel
Harvey in London Thursday night at
the Pilgrims dinner. Both of these
questions are easily answered so far
as it may be assumed that. Washington
controls the situation.
The League of Nations is not getting
anywhere with the United States re-
naming out, and the expectancy here
is that it will die of dry rot in few
years, if not sooner, all the functions
which it normally would exercise hav-
ing virtually been transferred already
either to the Allied Supreme Council
or the Council of Ambassadors.
League Idea Quiescent
On the other question-what is being
done about forming an association Of
nations-the answer is, nothing. This
does not mean that there is no chance
of anything being done, although that
does seem to be the most likely pros
pect. But certainly nothing is being
done now, and no preparations are be-
ing made for anything to be done.
President Harding has no cut-and-
dried scheme for an association. On
the contrary, he has told friends within
the last ten days that he is much
pleased with American participation in
the Supreme Council and the Council
of Ambassadors, and has caused the in
ference at least, although those who
talked on this subject declined to quote
him on this point, that he thought the
Supreme Council and the Council of
Ambassadors would function very nice
ly as the organization of an association
of nations.
To these some day may be added,
the Presidents advisers say, an inter
national court. But the Presidents
ideas are so set against having any
kind of written or unwritten constitu-
tion for the association Of nations
which might be interpreted some day
as binding this country to do some
thing which its own judgment did not
approve, that he naturally is not eager
to make any attempt to hasten the
opening of negotiations, even for this.
1t is the determination of the Presi~
dent that this country shall never be
bound, even by a unanimous decision
OF those nations not involved in the
dispute, which has been driving him
toward the conclusion that the present
machinery--the Supreme Council and
the Council of Ambassadors-is pretty
good, after ALL and perhaps much more
practical than some unattainable dream
of world omen which at the same
time could prevent wars and yet not
bind nations to its decisions.
Open Discussion Provided
President Harding is said to believe
that at the meetings of the council of
cussions of problems which arise, the
great merit, rs claimed by it's advo-
Gates, of the league of nations. The
argument that the great war never
would have begun had there been any
thing resembling a league of nations
also would apply, it is declared, in be-
half of the council of ambassadors.
Naturally enough, when the immedi-
ate postwar problems have been dis
posed of there probably would be
changes especially when the day comes
for restoring Russia and Germany to the
active list on the roster of nations
However, that is a problem which is
not worrying any one in official Wash
ington at present. The old motto of
crossing bridges when one gets to them
is popular with both President Harding
and Secretary Hughes. The very men
tion of this old motto at a Cabinet
meeting, it is learned, is sufficient to
postpone consideration Of that particu-
lar problem and restore the attention
to some pressing problem which must
be solved at once.
President Harding's hopes for the
preservation of international peace
through the existing machinery of the
Supreme Council and the Council of
Ambassadors go further than the set
Ting of disputes which may arise in
the future. He has high hopes that
the Supreme Council will do something
about disarmament. AS has been
Continued on next paHs)