Evening star., 1921-03-08
Allies Move May Hasten Ex-
pected Decision of This
Government.
PRESIDENT STRIKES AT
DEPARTMENT JEALOUSY
Approval of Colombian Treaty
May Be Urged on Senate-Mr.
Coolidge Joins Meeting of
Presidential Advisers.

Withdrawal Of the American Army
OF occupation on the Rhine is under
stood to have occupied a prominent
place in the discussion at the first
meeting today OF President Harding
and his cabinet officers. An official
announcement was withheld but il
was indcated that the administra-
tions policy might be announced soon.
PRESSURE has been eXerted in the
senate Tor some time to have the
American forces withdrawn from
Germany. and predictions were made
repeatedly that the forces would be
returned TO this country soon after
the new administration came into Of
nee. The movement Of the allied
armies today is expected to hasten a
decision on the question
Panama Situation Discussed.
The Panama-Costa Rica situation
also was discussed, and the latest in
formation on this subject was before
! the cabinet. In the absence of a re-
ply from Panama to the last Ameri-
can note, however. there was moth
ing to Indicate what the next step of
the United States would be. The tax
ana tariff program to be placed be-
fore Congress at its special session
n
only in a general way.
The next meeting of the cabinet
will be held Friday,
The President said that the meeting
was especially pleasing, interesting z
and profitable. Every evidence was
given by his advisers that there will
De the closest cooperation and friend
hest OF feeling in the operation of
I their respective departments and that
each OF the ten men plainly showed
that his shoulder will be to the wheel
from now on.
cussing the functioning of the vari-
Gus departments and bureaus. partic-
ularly those which because of their
activities have had a tendency to
overlap each other and to duplicate in
work. Other problems of the gov
ernment were discussed. among them
being the tremendous task ahead of
the War Department in cleaning up
the accumula tion of business as a re
suit of the war. Secretary of War
Weeks presented to the President and
his associates about the table ideas
that he had formed to bring this de-
partment out of certain disorder as q
result of this accumulation.
The Vice Presidents attendance at
the meeting was one of the interest
ing features of his cabinet meeting,
and he gave every evidence of enjoy
the President and the cabinet members
in having him as one of their family. He
was invited to offer suggestions and
opinions upon every subject brought
up.
A special message to the Senate re-
Questfng immediate ratification of the
Colombian treaty is being prepared
by President Harding. according to
reports among senators today in the
wake of last nights White House
conference.
1t was understood that President
Harding had accepted the view Of Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts. republican
floor leader. and Secretary Fall of the
Interior Department that action on
the treaty during the special session
of the Senate was desirable.
Disposal OF the treaty was discussed
by President Harding with senator's
last night. but only in a cursory man
ner. it was said. There was no eX-
tended discussion of the advisa bility
of obtaining action at the present
session.
The treaty was not taken up today
by the Senate. which remained in
session only long enough to hear the
journal read and have Senator Cum
Minis of Iowa sworn in as president
pro tempore.
Decisions on Appointments.
So far the President has made few
est appointments of his administra-
ton. Within the next few days.
however, he is expected to select a
considerable number of men for
vacancies on various government
agencies. One of the subjects to
the membership of the Shipping
Board, but Secretary Christian said
today that any talk of definite selec-
tions for the board was pure specu-
lation.
Callers on the President.
During the morning the callers at
Mr.. Harding's Office included Senators
Lodge Of Massachusetts,, Wadsworth
of New York Sterling of South Da-
kota. New of Indiana, Elkins of West
Virginia, McCumber of North Dakota
and Calder of New York, all republi-
cans; Senator Shields of Tennessee.
democrat; Fred Upham of Chicago.
treasurer of the republican national
committee, and Charles d. Hilles OF
New York, former republican national
chairman.
Senator Lodges call was generally
understood to concern affairs in
which the foreign relations commit
tee. of which he is chairman, is in
terested. He declined, however, to
reveal any details of his talk with
the President.
After leaving the White House
Senator Lodge visited the State, War
and Navy building. where he con-
ferred with Secretary DENLY of the
Navy Department and Henry p.
Fletcher, undersecretary Of state, but
he refused to disclose the subject
matter of his talks.
Wood to Study Philippines.
President Harding will announce,
within a day or so, that he has re-
quested that Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood
be detailed by the War Department
to go to the Philippine Islands to
make a study of conditions there In
the light of Philippine aspirations and
independence. He will not go as
governor general of the islands, as
was intimated by a statement made
by Secretary of War Weeks a few
days before he was sworn in.
The mission was formally intrusted
TO Gen. Wood at conference be-
tween him and the President at
which Secretary Weeks Of the War
Department also was present, yes
terday afternoon. 1t was decided that
such plan would be preferable to
Mr.. Hardings original plan to make
Gen Wood governor general OF the
islands.
In making the original offer of the
Philippine governorship to Gen. Wood.
Mr.. Harding is understood to have been
moved primarily by a desire to obtain
full information about the details Of
Philippine conditions. 1t is believed that
Cen Wood himself made the sugges-
tion that he could conduct the inquiry
/Conf;r,,ad IN page 9 Column 1l