New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-02-13
Says 1t Would Be Fine for
England or France to
Summon a Conference: {:
Denies He Is Committed
Passes Interesting
Hour With Dawes
Chicagoan Still Regarded
as Cabinet Possibility:
Refuses Amy Comment
From a StaR oorreapend.,it

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla, Feb. 12.--
President-elect Warren G. Harding
said to-day that he was heartily in IA
Vor OF an international conference at
the earliest possible moment for the
purpose of considering disarmament.
IN denying that he was committcd to
call such conference. Senator Har.
ding gave interviewers the impression
that he would be delighted if the con-
ference proposal came from some
other nation.
MT Harding discussed the subject
OF disarmament shortly after a talk
with Charles G. Dawes, of Chicago,
which he referred to as fascinating
hour. Their conference revived the
peIlef that the President-elect still is
endeavoring to get Dawes into the
Cabinet. Neither of them denied this.
II want to make it positive that
there is no commitment on my part
to call disarmament conference" the
President-elect said, In Washington a
few days ago Representative Thomas
Butler, of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the House Naval Affairs Committee
said positively, according to published
dispatches, that the United States
would call such conference.
Il am heartily in favor of the ma
tions of the world taking this subject
under consideration at the earliest
possible moment Mr.. Harding con-
tinued. "My whole scheme for inter
national concord is largely dependent
upon disarmament. It will be partial
or approximate disarmament, OF course,
because we will never get total dis
armament. Uhat is all q dream"
Approves Geddes Mission
The President-elect was reminded
| that recent newspaper dispatch FROM
London stated that the British Am
bassador, Sir Auckland Geddes, was
returning to the United States with
full power to make proposals for a
disarmament conference.
"Fine!" approved Mr.. Harding. at
would be splendid Il the call came
from either France or Great Britain,
or even other big nations"
| Charles Evans Hughes's appointment
with the President is on February
18, Mr.. Harding said. 1t is understood
here that one OF their reasons for
meeting at this time is to discuss the
course OF action to be taken by the
| Ohlted states II, as is expected, dis
armament conference is proposed by
some European power soon after the
inauguration
General Dawes let it be known here
that he did not get all the profanity
out OF his system when he appeared
before the subcommittee of the House
that is investigating the conduct Of Che
| war '''N
He'll" said the General. when CORE.
I sPohqents SURROUNDED him as he left
the President-elect "I don't know 8
damn thing" q
Are you going to be in the Cabi.
nett" Mr.. Dawes was asked. O
I'm not candidate for the Cabi.
net" was his evasiye reply. Then he
added: "President-elect Hardino ie
making his Cabinet" '''' *
AS the former A. e. f. general was
leaving, Mr.. Harding appeared In =
door of his hotel suite and called out:
'Don t forget our golf game, General
Dawes Objects to War Title
I'm no general, I'm Dawes. Won't
called out the visitor as ne stepped
brlskiy down the corridor.
Then the esident-elect said
| Well. I've had an hour Of the mos
iHtefestlng conversation I've had since
was nominated. We talked about
efficiency and coordination of govern.
ment from the standpoint of the Gener
ais experience abroad 1t was fssci
mating hour. Really he is wonderful
Mr.. Harding paused moment as he
smiled at some recollection of thei,
conversation. Then he said: "He',
not profane. He just has a positive
way Of expressing himself1
1t may be asserted positively that
former Governor Frank Q. Lowder
has not refused to accept the Navy
portfolio, which has been proffered b.
President-elect Harding. Recent re
ports from Washington said tha
friends of Lowden We're authority fol
the statement that he had declined tn,
post. Mr.. Harding has made it clear
that he desires very much to have Mr.
Lowden in his Cabinet as Secretary o,
the Navy. It is understood that Mr.
Lowden has hesit4ted to accept 10,
fear that the offer may have been mad,
tcontlnued from pass three)