New-York tribune., 1921-02-12
Impressed With British
Proposals, He Plans
Important Step Soon
After His Inauguration
Would Bring About
World Conference
New Policy Toward the
Latin-American Nations
Considered at Meeting
With John Barrett
From a stor Correspondent


Plans for a world disarmament confer
snce will be discussed here within a
few days by President-elect Harding
and Charles Evans Hughes, who is to
be his Secretary of State. Mr.. Harding
said to-day that Mr. Hughes, at his
invitation, would arrive in ST. Angus
tine this week.
The President-elect has let it be
known Of late that he is deeply inter-
ested in the apparently genuine sug-
yestions from Great Britain for an in
ternational discussion of various
schemes for restriction by agreement
Of military force. 1t is known that he
contemplates taking an important step
soon after his inauguration that will
bring about such conference. Re-
ports from London that Sir Auckland
Geddes, British Ambassador to the
United States, is returning to this
country armed with full powers to deal
with the incoming Administration con-
cerning disarmament conference pro-
posals have proved deeply interesting
10 Mr.. Harding.
Construe 1t as You Wish
In discussing the impending visit of
former Justice Hughes to-day, Mr..
Harding with twinkling eyes, said to
newspaper correspondents:
"You may construe Mr.. Hughes's
visit as you wish. You may say that
his coming here is for the purpose of
receiving his appointment to the Cabi-
net or you can say that I have asked
him here to tell him that I can't place
him in the Cabinet. However, he is
coming, and at my invitation"
1t also was learned from Mr.. Har-
ding that Charles G. Dawes, the Chi
eesg banker, is coming here within
teS days. Mr.. Dawes, however, is not
coming at the invitation Of Mr.. Har-
ding, The President-elect said that he
understood Mr.. Dawes's primary pur-
pose IN visiting Florida at this time
was to see brother. There is a dis
inct impression prevailing here thai
Mr Dawes is completely out of con-
slderatlon as candidate for the Cabi-
net.
!, Former Governor Frank O. Lowden,
m tne other Illinois man who has been
the subject OF vast deal of specula-
ton as Cabinet possibility, is report
ea to have declined the proffered post
Of Secretary of the Navy. Mr.. Har-
dhg, 1t is known, would have been
deeply pleased if Mr.. Lowden could
nave nave oeen persuaded to have accepted
this place.
South May Get Portfolio
II Mr.. Lowden has declined definite
~ there IS possibility that the South
nay be represented in the Cabinet
1f' a.. harding said to-day, though, that
mere was very little weight behind
shy sectional or geographical drive for
sePfesentanon in the Cabinet. He
spoke particularly of recent sugges-
IONS tnat Southern Republicans were
uhIed IN demand for representation
A. A. tae cabinet. If the Republicans of
sHe south have united upon any >ingle
viewpoint 1T is that they want all the
patronage possible for their particular
seEtlon; Efforts expended in forcing
q oouthern man into the Cabinet are
W n.y. nkely TO harvest much in the way
VI general patronage.
pn aWG men are under considerable n by
,etsiuent-eiect Harding fer TIE i'm
SStrtaht post Of Under Secretary of
To-. rS!Ie VI |ueSe Is Dr. DAVID
Gayne Hl'!, Of New York, and the other
Is Is henry Fletcher, former Ambassador
70 Mexico, who was one of the Presi-
SSemteiects Sem few companions aboard the
ssJtatseooat Victoria on the Indian River
ashlng cruise.
10 Discuss Mexican Situation
=, Mexico is understood to be one of
;ns. sne subjects that Mr.. Harding is anx-
tS .SuS TO discuss with Mr.. Hughes. At
tne present time there are more en-
fses fgsassles and legations in Washington
Sa ssh there are in London and the
,n ,S~u.n american ones are particularly
Ssmpoftant. Because of Mr. Fletcher's
tMs,hate trai knowledge of South and Cen
Hal American affairs his appointment
+. + not unlikely. On the other hand.
tn.hlil ~, hlil is said to have a broader
N"s"!edge Of diplomatic procedure and
CONTINUED on page four)