The Washington herald., 1921-02-20
Indicates New Premier
Designate Will Have Free
Rein as to Policies.
FOREIGN ATTITUDE
ALREADY OUTLINED
Next Secretary to Have
Advice of Diplomatic Ex-
perts From G.. o. p.
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FhbbbhAN "AAAAA " WILL
ST. AUGUSTINE. Fla. Feb. ls.-
Americas foreign affairs ere % be
brought back 70 normalCy They ar
to be conducted after March b.
a Secretary Of State whose mind will
not necessarily have 70 go VIII
ingIy along" with that OF the Presi-
dent That was the overshGdowing-
Iy significant construction placed by
Harding himself on the appointment
Of Charles E. Hughes as premier or
his cabinet. formally ANNOUNCED l5v
the President-eIect today in HughsF
presence.
1t will be one OF nc policies oC
the new administration" said Hard
ing in an aside OF pregnant signih-
cance. TO let the Secretary Of
State from the beginning speak Inr
the State Department with that
observation. White House ''boEsiHE"
Of our international relations would
seem to have gone where the wood
bine twineth.
Followed Conference
The formal and definite prouIs-
nation Of Hughes elevation TO tn"
Secretaryship OF State followed "a
protracted all-morninE confer, ne,
between him and Mr. Harding. Tho
episode. which one day may prove
to have been Of historical ,impor-
tance, was marked by Democrat
simplicity.
Il suppose i'm not come alto
Eether as a surprise TO you" said
the President-elect 10 the newspH-
permen while Hughes. smiling cI-
pansively. stood by. so learn that
I invited the governor down here
to ask him to become Secretary or
State. I am happy 10 say he has
agreed TO DO So
There was q momeutary pauFe
filled with expectancy on the usrCt
Of HardinE's audience that he uiEht
divulge in some degree the nature
OF the discussion with Hughes
which had occupied the morninu
The President-eleCt invited his S,r-
retary Of State to step into thu,
breach Then. in his first utte-anCr
as direCtor-desiEnate to Amenca'e
external relations, Hughes said:
Imperative Obligation.
of course. I appreciate il a. a
very high privilege 10 he invited by
Senator Harding to serve in his ad-
ministration. ! also regard IL as an
.mperatife obligation TO accept that
invitation. Naturally. Mr Hardiu=
and ! have talked over a great many
matters, but in the nature OF things
you would hardly expect Us 10 dir
Cuss them at this time"
Presumably having rI mind other
distinguished men who have not
recognized any imperative obIiEs-
tion TO join the Harding admins
tration," one OF Hughes interroEa-
tors suggested him TO define the mo
tive that impelled him to obey Jltr
President-eleCt's summons. His
answer was simple and direct Pc
cause" ne said, Il think Il is call
no one could well refuse in justice
to what he conceived to be his duty
to the country. Hughes emphs-
sized he did not mean. in saying ~
much, to cast imputstions Of any
sort.
On Way Here.
Both Harding and Hughes allowed
it to be inferred their conversation
ran virtually the entire Eamut o.
Americas immediate foreign proI-
lens. Hughes left for Washington
tonight He docs not expect TO So.
the President-eIcCt again until
Harding takes once II may be as
sumed their talk today concerned
the following cardinal points set
down in the order OF their urgency
for Hsrding's purposes:
l-IndiCstion Of foreign policy. TO
te given in the Presidents insUE-
ural address embracing general at
titude toward world association
disarmament and conclusion Of
peace with Germany.
2-Selections for Hughes chief
lieutenants at the state Department,
such as UnderseCretary and Assis-
tant Secretaries a. state.
5-Ambassadorisl and other dip
lomatiC appointments with Berlin.
London, Mexico City and Tokyo
probably taking precedence in the
Challenge 10 Country.
Now that a Hughes Secretaryshir
of State has emerged from the realm
of speculation into the domain Of
Rctuality. il can be accounted War
ren G. Hardings first signal to the
country an dto the Republican party
that he intends being President Of
the United States in fact as well as
in name. II is an open secret Hard
ing appointed Hughes in the face OF
violent opposition by some Of the
most powerful leaders in the Re
publican organization. Indeeu.
Hughes was not the choice Of hard
lyy anyone OF them. Many Of them
were for Knox; others preferrea
Root; Some were for Hm: few
wanted Hughes. Harding weighe-
al the pros and cons and decided
hughes, everything considered. was
his best choice.
u might have been Root eIcept
10 age drawbacks The President
eli q feels in selecting in the for
mer governor OF New York and
Un ted States Supreme Court Jus-
lee, he has chosen premier Ger
iain to command the nations ap-
prevail.
Enemies Active.
Two arguments were urged
aEainst Hughes with persISten,rr
and even with acerbity. His un-.