New-York tribune., 1922-01-27
Many of Presidents Close
Advisers Opposed to
Any Participation in
European Middle Now
QUERY in Senate
Also an Obstacle
Fear Expressed That Plea
to Cancel War Debts
Might BE Embarrassing
By Carter Field

w HpiI 4ANNr O4N, JdN. .-c.-OppO-
sition Of the United States to par
ticipation at this time in the In
ternational Economic Conference,
which has been called by the Allied
Supreme Council to meet in Genoa.
Italy, on March 8. will result in a
postponement Of that conference, ac-
cording to information which has
been received in Washington from
foreign capitals. 1t is believed that
the conference will be postponed to
early summer or even later.
The objection Of the United States.
vt was shown to-day, is not primarily
t" participating in an international
economic conference. 1t is the view
of the Administration. however, that
participation at time when the
great problems worked out at the
armament limitation conference still
are in allegiance would not be good
policy. After these Washington
conference questions are settled
that is, after they have been put in
the form of treaties which have beer
ratified by the constitutional author
tiles of the nations involved-thcr
the United State. safely can take up
such problems as would come before
an international economic confer
ence.
Harvey to Notify Poincare
At the same time that the views Of
the Administration On the subject OF
the Genoa conference became known
here to-day, George Harvey, American
Ambassador to the Court OF ST. Jamcs's
announced in Paris that he would state
the American view of the Genoa com
ference to Premier Poincarc. This
view. it was stated. was that the
United States would not enter tine
Genoa conference at all unless Franc.
took part unreservcdly in its proceed
ings.
The dctermnatio of the President
not to take part in the Genoa confer
ence until the present armament con-
terence was entirely signed sealed and
delivered. was reached some time ago
Since then, while the view of the Ad-
ministration has not changed, there
haze been numerous indications OF op-
position to American participation in
the Genoa conference. notably in the
Senate and bv President Gompers, Of
the American Federation Of Labor
The President has delayed formal an
nouncement because ne wished to make
no statement on the Genoa conference
until the Washington conference had
become history. He knew ne did not
want to accept the Genoa invitation in
the mean time, but he did not want to
announce final decision. His reason
was chiefly diplomatic one. He did
not wish to show his hand as to the
economic conference in advance to
powers with which this government is
attempting to reach conclusions in the
Washington conference.
Senate Outcry q Handicap
As in several other instances in the
little less than one year he has been in
Office, this effort of the President to
work little international strategy has
been made much more difficult, if not
checkmated. by the clamor of those
members of the Senate who feared that
without loud protests the President
might do something of which they dis
approved.
To-day, therefore, to quiet tho
clamor the Administration suddenly
released information in four different
places.
The President himself told Senator
that there was not the slightest chance
of his accepting the Genoa invitation
under present conditions.
A Cabinet officer who has refused
day after day to answer any questions
by the newspaper men as to Genoa
stated BADLY. when asked again to-day
regarding American participation, that
''it is SO remote that you may regard
it as non-existent."
Two other Cabinet officers talked
about the Genoa conference to the
newspaper men to the same general
effect as the Presidents statement to
the Senator.
Postponement Held Certain
"The horoscope seems to indicate
that the Genoa conference will not be
held in March, but some months later
one of the Cabinet members said.
The Harding Administration. he as
serted, has ground to believe that the
Genoa conference will not be held in
March, but will be postponed until
after the conclusion of the armament
conference.
At the same time he explained that
the Washington conference will not be
regarded by the government as ended
until final action has been taken by the
Senate on all the treaties.
"My own idea about the Genoa con-
ference is that before the United States
can participate in it four things must
happen" the other Cabinet member
said. 'The question Of reparations
must first be settled definitely among
the foreign governments involved.
There must be reduction in European
armies. We cannot deal with any
conference where the recognition OF
Russia is involved, nor can we be pres1
ent should the discussion Of foreiel
debt come up.
ITO me it seems absurd to go into 4
conference while Russia has an armJ
of million and ouarter nrsa M ;ik