New-York tribune., 1921-03-07
To Back Scheme Worked
Out After Hughes, Fall,
Hoover, Bryan and Taft
Had Been Advised With
Disarmament Also
To Be Considered
Crowds Visit White House
Grounds ;ContinualLine
of Autos Passes Through
From The Trsbune.s Washington surecs

From The Tyibunes Washington Bureea
WASHINGTON, March g.
President Harding, having studious-
ly avoided all contact with repre-
sentatives Of foreign powers since
last June, when he became the
standard bearer Of the Republican
party, is now ready for a series Of
important conferences with the
ambassadors of Great Britain and
France and other Allied powers
1t is understood to be the in.
tention Of the President to lay be-
fore these representatives. of the
existing League of Nations his
scheme for an association of ma
tions for world conference which
would support the international
court of justice. This plan was
worked out by Mr.. Harding in
broad detail at the meeting Of
minds in Marion after his return
from his tropical vacation.
Three members of Mr.. Harding.
Cabinet participated in that series
Of conferences, Charles Evans
Hughes, Herbert c. Hoover and
Albert B. Fall. William Jennings
Bryan, long a supporter of world
peace plans, and former President
William Howard Taft. leading
spirit in the League to Enforce
Peace, both played important roles
in the front porch discussion.
Hughes to Arrange Conferences
1t will be one Of the first tasks o,
Secretary of State Hughes to arrange
the conferences with the Allied am
bassadors in which Mr.. Hughes, of
course. will take part. Sir Auckland
Geddes has but recently returned from
England with what are understood to
be broad powers to arrange an inter
national conference on the subject Of
disarmament. President Harding has
said that he IS ANXIOUS to have taken
h 81
for approximate disarmament But he
has also made it very clear that he
believes the true Wy to disarmament
is by way of his association of ma
lions plan. Until that scheme has been
considered by the powers M Harding
is unlikely to take seriously any pro
posals for restriction Of military
power.
The conferences at Marion were
b., T.
Harding's stern insistence that it would
be unbecoming TO consult with repre-
sentatives OF foreign powers at that
time. At all times he was intensely
conscious of the letter written TO him
by Woodrow Wilson during the cleo
ton campaign calling his attention to
the serious impropriety OF diplomatic
discussions relating 10 the foreign
policy of the United States when car
ried on by private citizens and repre-
sentatives OF foteign powers. Mr.. Viii
he had read newspaper reports OF Mr.
rear Platform speech a.
Green Castle, Ind, in which he was
quoted as saying that France has sent
her eInissary" to talk about the pro-
posed association of nations.
In his reply TO that note Mr.. Har-
ding, after pointing out that as d mem
Der Of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and the candidate of one o.
the major parties, he was hardly 10 be
classed as a private citizen, said that
he had not meant to imply that France
had sent any one to see him.
Spared Wilson Embarrassment
Thereafter Mr.. Harding and mis- STAFF
took extreme care that ne mad no con-
ferences with any one that might be
construed by unfriendly critics as con-
ferences with Representatives Of for
eign powers. Frequently he has said
that he avoided such contacts through
Il desire to spare Mr.. Wilson needless
EN- barrassment.
There is no longer need for such
precautions, however. and President
is understood TO be eager for
discussions with Allied am
bassadors to learn their countries
views regarding the Harding concept
of the kind of society of nations in
which the United States of America
can participate.
The President was up early this
morning and departed soon after break
fast for a motor ride TO Grasslands, .
country club on the outskirts of the
District of Columbia. There he met
Senator Frelnghuys and. it is pre-
sumed, talked over plans Tor reform
ing the old Senate foursome, Of which
he, Frelinghuysen, Senator Fred Hale,
of Maine, and Senator Davis Elkins, Of
West Virginia, were the members.
DR.. and Mrs. c. f. Sawyer and Mr..
and Mrs. Malcolm Jennings. of Colum-
bus, Ohio, and several kinfolks Of the
Hardings are still house guests at the
Executive Mansion.
Early this afternoon the President,
with Mr.. Jennings. went out on the
south lawn of the White House 10 i'm
prove his acquaintance with Laddie
Boy, his new Airedale. Laddie, how
ever, was out on leash held by a negro
White House messenger, doing his
canine best to show Washington thas
the first dog of the land had dignity
commensurate with his high place. The
President. not finding his dog. then
strolled among the tree-covered knoils,
where in a few weeks every capital
youngster who can get there viii be
rolling Easter eggs.
Former Texas Hosts Pay Cali
Among the visitors at the White
House to-day were Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
Scobie, Of San Antonio, Tex, formss