Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-07
Legislative Leaders Sug.
gest This Plan of Learn
ing European Views
PROPOSE ROOT AS HEAD
Changes in Diplomatic Corps Held as
Making Step Necessary-NO Refer.
ence to Germany.


Harding, it was learned yesterday,
is being urged to defer the adoption
Of a concrete program for dealing
with European affairs until he can
/ dispatch commission to Europe
which will provide him with first
hand information regarding exact
conditions abroad; the attitude Of
indebted governments regarding the
loans made to the Allies; the views
Of the principal powers upon an as
scciation for conference and what
terms may be exacted Of Germany
when a separate peace treaty is ne
gotiatcd. =
Sui, commission, it is said, will
be headed by former Secretary Of
State Elihu Root, if it materializes,
and ,aay have as member of Sem
ator Knox, Of Pennsylvania, a for
mer Secretary Of State, and at least
one Democratic member. It is un-
derstood that Mr.. Root is prepared
to accept the mission if it is tender
ed to him.
How Mr.. Harding regards the sug-
gestej ventpre is not indicated. Be-
fore he adopts or rejects it. he will
go into all phases of it with Secrc-
tary Of State Charles E. Hughes and
will probably be guided in large
| measure by Mr.. Hughes attitude. IT
wa sintimated Yesterday that Mr..
Hughes also had been acquainted
with ;he matter as possible means
of dealing intalligently with the
problems which IL must face as time
goes on.
From all that could be learned yes
terdav the diplomatic enterprise orig
mated among legislative leaders, al
! though it has been assumed for some
time that Mr. Harding, once in Office.
would seek some avenue of first
hand information regarding the state
of affairs abroad, and that he would
| make liberal usa of. the knowledge
of Nv. Root and his standing in Eu-j
rope to that end. -,
With the change in government,
the diplomatic corps also changes.
The secretaries and attaches are pro-
tected by the Civil Service, Of course,
but cne heads oc all missions have
rendered their designations, in most
instances to take effect at the pleas
ure cf the President. +.
This means that Mr. Harding will
| soon have a group Of new men rep
resenting him abroad. He could
scarcely be expected to take advice
| from the retiring diplomats, all
Democrats, and :f he is to fully in
| form himself and his State Depart
mcnt staff, it will be necessary for
him TO &C somewhat outside routine
channels for his insight into foreign
affairs. At least. this is advice which
is being given him.
1t has been suspected in some
quarters that 1Ir. Harding has had
some such project in mind as that
just outlined and that ,the, facts was
responsible for his failure to declare
himself more definitely in. his iuau-
gural address As will be recalled,
be confined that address to the
broadest generalities when he touched
upon international relationship.
The cne positive promise which Mr.
Harding gave. theI country in the.
course of his campaign, a promise
not modified since that time, was a
! quck peace with Germany. He let
it be understood that such peace
would come about as soon as Con-
gress should adopt resolution to
that effect for the Executive to sign:
! Yet he avoided any reference to
this circumstance in his, first address
| to the country. He cor1lmentes brief
Fly upon other phases OF foreign af-
fairs, bat he made no mention. of an
early peace or OF such processes as
might be in his mind FOR arriving at
I, a separate peace with the Central
powers.
"A. complication has arisen insCon-
gress which :bears. directly oron the
Root proposal. The demand' for dis
arm, ament dmess1rss ..whiirarrssaited
lin. the defeatsef the naSslg sppnopria-
ton bill. is expected to: as:;rensHedtby
Senator Borah .and' his supporters,
| rh;c nannnk.Eh. :. ~. .fr0nad ;iinIra,