Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-09
SMALL j. S. GROUP
AT ARMS PARLEy
Advisory Commissions Will Fur
nish Valuable Aid to Amer
ican Delegation
VOTES WILL BE BY UNITS
BY CLINTON W. GILBERT

by CIiNTON w. NlLbEht
ets6 Correspondence. Evening Public Ledger
Copprfoht, 1921, BY Public Ledger Company
Washington. Sept. 0.-At the Stat"
Department il was learned today that
the American delegation to the arma-
ment conference would not necessarily
be limited to four, President Harding
having not yet reached final decision
upon the number, in spite Of letter
he has written to Congressman Jeffers.
Of Alabama.
Even II this country has only fnur
representatives other nations will be
free to send any number of delegates
they choose. As at Paris the delcga-
ttons will probably vary in size. This
10 unimportant. for each nation will
have only one vote, no matter what it's
representation. 1t is generally as.
sumed here that Japan will send only
three delegates. as she did to Paris,
and China may also send only three
Great Britain, having the problem Of
representing the colonies, may send
larger delegation, perhaps even moro
than FIVE.
Mr.. Harding once inclined to have
fve or six delegates. but the difficulty
-
large delegation has influenced him
to limit his choice to four.
Underwood Obvious Choice
One problem before Mr.. Harding has
been proper representation of the Dem
ocratic minority. Senator Underwood
has always been nn obvious selection be-
cause he is disposed to co operate with
the Administration and because 1t was
deaira hla RI bnCn bn ,pinnrt4y 1onJn,
IN the Senate committed to whatever
program might emerge from the confer
ence. But no one could readily see the
second Democratic member.
Democratic eX- Secretaries Of state.
Ike Lansing and Colby, were clearly
unavailable, and II was difficult to pass
them over in favor of former under
secretaries like Polk or Norman Davis.
And IL only one Democrat was to b.
selected then delegation Of FIVE, with
four Republicans in 1t. would look
little overweightcd politically. Then
there were various groups and interests
which sought appointment.
No Military Representative
There were the ex- service men for
whom Congressman Jeffcrs wrote 70 the
President. and there were the women
who thought that some woman should
sit on tie delegation. Moreover. Mr..
Harding's letter indicates that some
pressure existed for the appointment of
representatives Of the array and navy
on the delegation, because the subject
OF limitation of arms was tc be dis.
couraSed. Mr.. Wilson put repre-
sentative of the army. General Bliss.
upon the Paris delegation.
The Presidents letter sets ut rest
all reports that the army md navy
will sit in the conference through any
OF its members. What will harpen will
be that as at Paris various advisory
commissions will be forme. and in these
representatives of the various interests
viii find places.
Naturally there will be army and
navy advisers to the American delpga-
tion upon the subject of limiting arma-
ment and probably also upon the Pacific
problems themselves. There will prob
ably also be financial and economic ad
yisers, as at Paris, among whom it is
likely that Thomas w. Lamont. be-
cause Of the part he played in forming
the Chinese consortium, will be one.
Will Avoid Wilson Mistake
On questions of policy in the East,
President Harding Is not likely to re-
peat the mistake made by Mr.. Wilson
and ignore the State Department by
forming a separate organization for the
conference similar to the House Organi-
sation at Paris. Such method weak
ems the State Department and deprives
Il Of the edacation and experience which
1t will derive from participating in the
conference.
The Secretary of State has sur
rounded himself in his own department
with men who are familiar with the
East. For weeks he has been in con-
slant touch with these men. absorbing
like lawyer preparing for n great case
all the facts that are available bearing
upon conditions and history in the Far
East.
Hughes Well Prepared
When the conference assemblies he
will be the best informed man upon
the American delegation with regard to
the Orient. Again he is avoiding Mr..
Wilson's mistake Of going to Paris un-
prepared.
Hughes will have the advantage which
all this preparation will give him in
addition 10 the advantage Of greater
youth and energy over the other mem
bers of the American delegation. 1t is
essential that he should be the real
head of the American representatives.
Naturally, with Senator Lodge and
Elihu Root under him and no special
authority belonging to him by virtue OF
his position, commanding position
presents difficulties.