Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-09
Root and Underwood Prob
able Colleagues of Hughes
and Lodge
HARDING's PLAN
Holland and Belgium to be Asked to
Take Part in Conference-Person-
nel of Delegates

Harding contemplates limiting to foul
members the American delegation II
the forthcoming international confer
ence on the limitation of armament
and the Pacific and Far Eastern ques,
tions. :,
prevailing belief here last night, prob
ably will consist of the following
members:
Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary
of State, Republican.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Senator from
Massachusetts and Chairman OF the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, Republican.
Elihu Root, formerly Secretary OF
State and later Senator from New
York, Republican.
Oscar W. Underwood, Senator from
Alabama, Democrat.
The selection of Secretary Hughes
and Senator Lodge already has been
announced by the President.
Mr.. Root called at the White House
Yesterday and was closeted with the
President for hour or more. He sand
later that he discussed with Secretary
Hughes means by which the Carnegie
Endowment for international Peace
might assist and cooperate with the
Armament Conference. Mr.. Root is
president of the Carnegie organiza-
ton, whose offer Of assistance, both
of personnel and information, in con-
nection with the conference was ac-
cepted by Secretary Hughes several
weeks ago.
Although President Harding has
had several Democrats under consld-
Grafton, including Senators Hitch
cock, of Nebraska, and Pomerene, o1
Ohio; John w. Davis ana John Bas-
sett Moore, present indications point
to the selection of Mr.. Underwood.
The plans of the President for the
conference are partly disclosed in a
letter he wrote Congressman Jetters,
of Alabama, last Friday. Mr.. Jetfers,
who is a Democrat and former sol
der of the World War, wrote the
President urging the inclusion OF an
ey-service man in the American dele
cation. :,
Mr.. Harding replied that it would
not be feasible to name an eX-serVlce
man for the main delegation, which
he contemplates limiting to four mem-
bers. He explained the considerations
guiding him in the choice of mem
bers, arhong whom he aims TO include
Outstanding representation OF the
present minority in Congress-.
For secretary-general of the confer
ence George Wharton Pepper. OF
Philadelphia, is said to be slated.
Holland and Belgium will be asked
to participate the conference SO far
as the discussion relates to their IN
terests. if the other powers already
invited are willing. These two states
have asked representation and Secre
tary Hughes has inquired whether
Great Britain, France, Italy and Jap
an have any objections.
- It also became known from official
gources that the preliminary confer,
ence which is still being discussed in
London has not been approved by the
United States and will not be. The
position of this Government upon that
question was clearly stated several
weeks ago and has not been changed.
Certain interests in London, how
ever, continue to press for preii-
minary conference, to be held in that
city. This is indicated in yesterday $
press dispatches, one of when stated
that the United States had at last
consented to such proceeding. Inis
is officially denied.
This denial, however, is not to be
taken to mean that the American Am
bassador to Great Britain is not per-
mitted to discuss with officials OF the
British Government any phase of the
Washington Conference. On the con-
trary, such discussions, it is stated to-
day are going on all the time, but
they are not in the nature of pre-
liminary conference.