The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-25
DISARMAMENT CALL IS UP 10 WILSON, IS HARDING VIE W
President -eIect Has Just Learned of Borah-Root Con- tr0verSy, But Will Refrain
 From Giving Opinion
By RoBERT T. SMALL

St. Augustine. Fla. January 24.-- President-elect Harding feels it is en. tirely up to President Wilson as to armament conference shall be called prior to the time MT. Harding becomes chief executive on March 4. Senator Harding scrupulously has refrained from attempting in any way to as sume any of the responsibilities of government in advance of his inaug- uration. He will decline now to be placed in the position of assuming to dictate or recommend what the pres ent administration should do.
 The controversy between Senator Borah and Flihu Root as to whether there should be postponement of the proposed disarmament conference un- til March has reached the President elect only in fragmentary form and he is not likely to take any official cog nizance of it inasmuch as neither Mr. Root nor the senator from Idaho is in d position to speak for Mir Harding The senator is enjoying his houseboat cruise down the Indian river, and as he himself has expressed it, is temporarily away from the world and away from care" He said he would like to be away from the newspapers if he only 'could dare" but the journals of cur rent happenings reached him yester- day afternoon and again today as the Victoria lay off Ormond, just south of here, and it was from these that he learned of the Borah Root controversy.
 UP TO PRESIDENT
 There is only one way by which an international conference to consider disarmament or any other subject can officially be called by the United States and that is through invitation of the President. Although the Senate has essayed recently to say what the in- ternational relations of the United States shall or shall not be, that body IS not yet vested with the right to initiate foreign arrangements. It can only approve or veto such arrange ments or agreements as the President himself shall make. It would seem, therefore, that it is up to MT, Wilson rather than to MT. Root or MT. Borah to say whether or not the disarma ment conference or congress be called before March 4.
 When this matter first was under discussion and attention was called to the fact that the President, under the naval appropriation act of 1914. was authorized and empowered to call d disarmament conference, a statement came out of Washington that Mr. Will son very likely would refrain from calling such a conference in the last six weeks of his administration lest his action might in some manner embarrass the incoming President The state. ment, or course, was unofficial, but U was nevertheless brought to the attention of MT. Harding at Marions The latter said at the time that ne had heard nothing definite about the matter, but that if MT. Wilson should decline to call the conference on the grounds stated, he thought it would De very becoming of him." MT. Harding said he would be glad to call such conference after consultations which would be possible only after he assumed the presidency.
 WILL NOT INTRUDE
 MT Harding knows full well how Jealous the President is at this time of ms official prerogatives and certainly has no desire to trespass in the least upon them.
 The Borah resolution authorizinr the opening of negotiations looking to naval holiday among Great Britain. Japan and the United States does not change the status of things in that 1t must rest with Mir. Wilson as to whether or not he shall act or let matters wait until MT. Harding comes into power Wien there will. of course, be a greater unity of purpose than at present between the capitol and the white house.
 MT. Harding is not concerned as vet lie has a very earnest desire that every thing possible shall be done to bring about disarmament or in any event a stoppage of increased armaments at the very earliest practicable moment. Wheth- CT it would be effective for an outgoing administration to broach this subject to the powers in the last hours of it's life is something Mir Wilson himself will have to decide. Mir. Harding does not feel it would be becoming for him to make any suggestions just at this time. If disarmament agreement could be brought about he feels a long step would be made toward the accomplishment Of his aim to make peace more probable and wars more difficult in the future
 Senator Hardings headquarters have been established in St. Augustine. Offices have been opened with staff of clerks and stenographers The Marion offices are being maintained with a diminished personnel.
 Mall for the President-elect will be handled through here while his cruise in the Indian river continues He will return here about February '.
 
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