Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-11
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(con4inusd from Psse ons]
ton Of diplomatic relations with the
southern republic. there Is little evil
dence OF confidence that formal
recognition may be possible in the
near future
The situation Of the American
troops on the Rhine y one which
has been brought forcibly to the at
tention of the new President by the
recent advance 81 the allied forces
into Germany to enforce provisions
Of the Versailles treaty.
The only announcement made
here has been that the stats and war
departments were In accord with
the policy of the previous admins
tration In 80 far as it provided for
non-participation IN the allied adj
vance and that On the other hand.
withdrawal Of the American army
was not Immediately under consid-
Grafton.
Of1cials are in close touch with
Developments however. and a more
DEFINITE policy probably win be
predicated upon them during the
next few weeks.
Related in some degree to the
Rhine situation IL the question of
American participation in modified
League Of Nations. Today's dis
patches from Paris, saying that tho
French embassy here was reported
to have approached the state de-
partment on the subject, were the
first public intimation that negotia-
tions regarding the league had been
received and that the general atti-
tude Of officials indicated the CONVEX
sations had not yet passed beyond q
preliminary stage,
There was every evidence, how
ever, that such a move on the part
of the Paris government would fit in
with President Harding's own no.
tons Of how the subject should be
approached It has been the under
standing among those close to Mr..
Harding that he not only has hoped
for a frank expression from the
other governments concerned, but
has planned to feel them out inform
ally early in his administration. II
the expectations Of some admins
tration officials are fulfilled consid-
cradle period of informal converse
tons will ensue before the stage Of
actual diplomatic interchanges is
reached.
Whether the President intends to
send representatives to Europe, ac-
credited officially and unofficially to
make inquiries for him, has not been
revealed. Speculation about the
capital has turned toward the pre-
sumption that he will do so. And it
even has busted itself with guesses
about the men most likely to be Sc
1ected for such a mission. In this
gossip the name Of Elihu Root fire.
quently has been mentioned but il
any sort Of mission actually has been
entrusted to Mr.. Root or any one
else, some of the Presidents closest
Official aides do not know of it.
One plan which in said to have been
urged upon Mr.. Harding would pro-
vide for the despatch of an emissary
to establish a listening post at the
next meeting of the League of Ma
lions at Geneva during the coming
summer and later to make q canvass
of sentiment in all the European cap
itals. II that 10 done 1t is expected
that at the same time the embassies
and legations here will be asked to
lay on the table whatever fnforma-
ton they have as to the attitude Of
their governments and that out of
the whole inquiry, a series Of formal
negotiations may eventually be
evolved,
Some of the highest officials of the
! administration believe it still is too
early to forecast toward what objec-
tive these negotiations might point
whether they would contemplate n
definition of the present League to
make it acceptable or the establish
ment of an entirely new international
structure for peace. 1t is understood
! that they would be undertaken with
a confidence that the interchange of
opinion would solve that question ga
tisfactorily.
In his consideration of diplomatic
appointments, particularly to the
great European capitals, President
Harding 10 seeking men who would
be alive to all the considerations In
volved in the league negotiations.
Mr.. Herrick, for one, not only is "a
miliar with French aspirations
through his experiences as ambassa-
dor at Paris during the trying early
months of the World War. but he
made a trip abroad last summer aad
talked over the League with some of
the leading European statesmen. Sir
ilarly Mr.. Wilson has had wide ac-
quaintance with the diplomatisss
through a period Of diplomatic se.-
vice which took him into many parts
of the world and which extended ov-
err a period of many years. Although
his assignment to Italy II understood
to be seriously under consideration.
he may be given some other place
and the Rome post awarded to VIII
Ham Miller COtlfer of the District