New-York tribune., 1921-09-09
international Law Leader
Confers With President
and Hughes, Discussing
the Coming Conference
q. 5. Delegation
Reduced to Four
Change in Plan to Name
Hive Members Prevents
Choice of Sutherland
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Sept 8.--Elihu Root
VIII be appointed representative of
/ the United States to the Conference on
the Limitation of Armament, it is be-
lAeved here tonight. President Harding is
known to have expressed a desire with
IN the last few days to have the distin-
gulshed New York statesman OH the
commission and it is believed that he
rendered the place to Mr. Root to-day.
Mr.. Root spent an hour with the
President this morning then more than
an hour with Secretary of State
Hughes, and later returned to the
White House for lunch with the Presi-
dent. No confirmation could be Obtained
from Mr.. Root. the White House or the
State Department that an offer of the
place had been mades to Mr.. Root or
that it had been discussed. 1t is known.
however, that President Harding de-
sired Mr.. Root to serve and that the
situation with regard to the conference .
was discussed at length by Mr. Root
and Mr.. Hughes
Another important development of
the day with regard to the personnel
1
can delegation probably will consist of
four instead of five members, as orig
lnally planned.
Number Never Was Fixed
No formal announcement ever has
been made as to the number of men
who would represent this country on
the conference, but il has been as
sumed both at the White Holse and
at the State Department that the num-
Der would be at least five. There have
been times when it was thought by
Admins officials that as many
as six Americans might be named.
President Harding's own choice was
five, it is declared, but the informal
stantly proceeding between the powers
which will participate have apparently
resulted in the change to four members
for this country.
AS it stands tonight the American
delegation probably will consist ot
Charles f. Hughes, chairman; Senate.
Henry Cabot Lodge, E1ihu Root and
Oscar W. Underwood. If an other change
should ensue as to the nu7nbar of
American members, so as to make ii
five. there is little doubt tat ex-Sena-
tor George Suthe rland, Of Utah, will be
the fifth American.
The appointment Of Mr.. Root, though
il had been strongly urged by The
Tribune and many Republican leaders,
had not been considered likely until
the last few days. There is excellent
authority for the statement that Mr.
Root was not in the original slate. Ad-
ministration officials up until few
days ago had considered that Senator
Phlander c. Knox would be appointed
Opinion here is that Senator Knox and
eliminated by the decision to have only
four American representatives and
what is believed to have been the de-
cision to appoint Mr.. Root
Diplomats Are Pleased
There is profound satisfaction evil
dent here over the belief that the
lcmats, political leaders and admins
tration officials all feel that there
would have been distinct loss to the
armament limitation conference if Mr..
Root had not been a member.
The Tribune's disclosure a few days
ago that Mr.. Roots services were being
sought by the South China, or Canton,
government brought prompt reac-
tion here among the admirers Of the
1 New Yorker, all of whom seemed to
take the view that it would be pity
employed as counsel advocating one
side of a controversy, which, important
az it may be to those Interested, is not
! one of the major problems confronting
The conference, rather than employed
in the interest Of the United States
and the world in working toward a
solution of the controversies between
this country and Japan, and following
that toward reduction of armament
costs.
There is keen regret here also at the
apparent decision to reduce the number
of American members to four. eX-
Senator Sutherland would have been of
! great value as member of the con-
ference, it is pointed out here. Al
though he was born in England, it is
rot thought that this had anything to
do with his elimination. President
! Harding is known to have leaned on
him heavily in working out his speeches
on international subjects during the
campaign.
There is also great disappointment
that Senator Knox will not be included,
on account of his great experience in
international affairs and his fine mind.