Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-09
U. s. TROOPS TO
STAY ON Rhine
FOR PRESENT
Sec. Weeks Word Fol
lowing First Meet
ing of Cabinet
President Harding Talks Over
Foreign and Domestic Prob
lens with His Ten Secretar-
les and coolidge-To Hurry
Treaty with Colombia

Washington, Mar. S--Various as
poets Of the nations foreign rela-
tons as well as problems of admin
istrative organization, were consid-
cred by President Harding and his
department heads today at the first
cabinet meeting Of the new admin
istration
F Afterward definite announcement
made at the war department that in
formulating its policy toward the
Rhine situation this government is
not now considering withdrawal
of. the American troops of occupa-
ton. 1t was learned at the same
time that as another step toward
Pan-American amity the President is
preparing to ask that the Senate
ratify at once the long pending
treaty with Colombia.
/. Developments in regard to the
Panama Costa Rica hostilities were
less definite butt is understood the
cabinet took cognizance of that sit
uation and canvassed latest official
reports on the subject. The next
step awaits receipt of reply from
Panama to the American note dis
patched Saturday.
In the realm of domestic ques-
tions, major attention was directed
toward perfection of the cabinet Or
ganiZation as a smoothly working
machine. Mr.. Harding is understood
to have made cooperation among
the departments the keynote of his
preliminary instructions to his Sec
retaries, telling them he wanted no
hesitation and jealousy about what
ever changes of jurisdiction might
be decided upon in the re-organiza-
ton scheme now being formulated.
All ten department heads and Vice
President Coolidge. invited in pursu-
ance of a policy announced during
the campaign. weer present at the
meeting The session lasted more
than two hours and at it's conclusion
Attorney General Daughtery stayed
behind for short talk with the
President. There also was a brief
individual conference between Mr..
Harding and Secretary Hughes of
the state department., before the
other cabinet members arrived.
After the meeting all the secre-
taries declined to give an intimation
cabinet table and the only announce
ment coming from the White House
related to the time of future ses-
.sions. 1t was said that the cabinet
would be called together again Fri
day and that thereafter meetings
would be held at least once week,
probably on Tuesdays.
The war department announce
ment concerning withdrawal of
American troops from the Rhine was
made by Secretary Weeks. who
would not discuss the subject further
than to say that withdrawal was not
now being considered. In. reaching
this decision in regard to its tenn
porary policy the administration is
understood to have taken into ac-
count all the elements OF the present
situation in western Germany, where
allied troops have advanced to en-
force the terms of the Versailles
treaty while the American forces re-
NAMED behind on the lines origin
ally occupied by them under the
armistice agreement.
Although nothing definite has de-
veloped in other official quarters
here to indicate the probable perma-
nent policy of the new administra-
ton. it is known that the situation
now presented along the German
border is receiving the close scrutiny
of Mr.. Harding and his advisers. 1t
generally is expected that some con-
crete expression of this governments
attitude may be forthcoming in the
near future.