The New York herald., 1922-01-19
CAB|NF' TO DISCUSS
FARLEY INVITATION
U. s. Not Likely to Accept
Until Complete Agenda Is
Received Here.
WAR DEBT HAS BEARING
Officials Against Considering @
Issue at Genoa in View of
Public's Attitude.
WAR DEBT HAS BEARING
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 18.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Jan. IS.
President Harding will proceed eau
tiously about accepting the invitation
for the United States to participate in
the Genoa conference.
The attitude of this Government
and it's policy with regard to the
Genoa meeting will be brought up at
the Cabinet session Friday. There Is
reason to believe it may be several
days before any decision is reached.
There appears to be considerable
difference of opinion now among mem
hers of the Administration regarding
the extent to which the United States
should take part in consideration Of
questions that may come before the
international conference on financial
and economic subjects. For this rea-
son no specific move is likely before
definite agenda is received and di-
gested by the Administration leaders
primarily concerned.
Differences of opinion among Presi-
dent Harding's advisers are not sharp.
According to information received by
THE NEW YORK HERALD these men are
weighing the questions which will be
considered by the Genoa conference.
Several members of the Cabinet are not
in favor of entry by this country into
any discussion which will involve the
debts of allied and other Powers to the
United States. They believe the attitude
of the American people and of the Con-
gress is sufficiently plain to permit of no
equivocation for discussion of these
debts at any parley where this Govern
ment might be committed to principles
in debt of adjustment not in consonance
with American public opinion.
Views of Cabinet Members.
Members OF the Cabinet. in advance
of determination of policy, will make
no public statement as to the probable
course Of the Administration. 1t Is un-
derstood that Secretary of State Hughes
favors participation on the basis Of the
general outline to be discussed. which
is carried in the call for the conference.
1t is likewise understood that Secre-
tary Mellon is not in favor of participa-
ton by the United States unless the
agenda makes 1t clear that the debts OF
one nation to another are not to be
taken up for settlement.
Secretary Hoover Is understood to be
In agreement with the views of Secre-
tary Mellon that discussion OF the
allied debts which might commit the
United States is not advisable at this
time.
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor has expressed him
self as opposed to participate by this
Government in financial and economic
conference which might lead to a dis
cussion which would commit this Gov
ernment TO a reconstruction policy"
that might not be in keeping with Amer
lean standards of living and welfare.
Another consideration In the deter
mination of the Administration policy is
the progress of the arms parley in
Administration officials are
diffident about committing this country
to a second international conclave until
the accomplishments of the present con-
ference are clearly defined. 1t is re-
ported that certain Administration
leaders are not ,unmindful of the fact
that the natural desire of European
governments 10 OBTAIN American particf-
patton in the proposed Genoa conference
might be a leverage In the conclusions
Of the armaments conference.
U. y. VIII Await Agenda.
All these questions will be threshed
out by the Cabinet on Friday. but II
seems certain the American Government
will not be committed until the complete
agenda OF the conference is received.
There Is hesitancy because Of the long
policy OF declining to partici-
pate in European international problems
The general uncertainty about details
OF the conference has put n damper on
the speculation on members OF the
American delegation, II one is sent. If. |
as may be the case. the conference is
regarded as a continuation OF the WASH |
ington conference to take up land arma-
ments and kindred subjects. an entirely |
different set OF delegates will go than |
II the deliberations are for the discus
sion OF internal affairs and foreign |
debts. IL the broader questions are 10 |
come up II might be that Secretary |
Hughes as the leading American diplo- |
mat and as chairman OF the Washing |
ton conference, would go to Genoa. On |
the other hand ii might be merely that |
the United States would have an OBJ |