The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-21
President Warned BY Repub-
liCan Leaders That Ranks Of
Organization May Split.
Will Seek To EnIighten Peo-
pie of Nation Immediately
WILL NOT AWAIT WESTERN
TOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Chairman Wood of Campaign
Committee Tells Executive
International Proposal May
Prove Poor Issue During
1924 Presidential Election

WASHINGTON, April 2o.-Con-
,iiEced that lack of information is
responsible for the opposition to the
administration plan for participation
in the cour. of International Justice.
President Harding is understood to
have decided to explain the plan
more fully and in detail at the first
favorable opportunity. The expla-
nation contemplated by the chief ex-
ecutive is expected to take the form
OF letter or an address. more prob
ably the latter. In either event 1t is
considered unlikely that the presi-
layed until the proposed western
speaking trip to start the middle OF
June.
Some of the Presidents advisers
are of the opinion that it should be
made in the near future, and this
REPRESENTATIVE viii r. Wood of In
diana. chairman of the republican
congressional committee. during a
cali, al the White House today as
serted that the world court propo-
stion had aroused more opposition
among republicans in the middle
west than the League of Nations.
President VIII SPEAK.
The President has accepted several
iiNltatioHS 10 make addresses, some
of them only tentatively, within the
next few weeks. A dozen or more
3 additional invitations have been ten
dered, and among these it is con-
sidere1 practically certain the exec
ltiye can find an appropriate occa-
sion to make his explanation.
Opportunities to obtain any infor-
nation the President might desire
in connection with the preparation
of statement of the administration
plan as submitted to the Senate
were afforded today by Elihu Root
and Secretary Hughes.
Mr.. Harding was in conference for
Ealf an hour with Mr.. Root, who
sat on the commission that drafted
the statute outlining the procedure,
membership and other details of the
International court. The former
cuss his conversation with the Pres
ident, but 1t was assumed that the
court pr oposal entered into the dis
eussions.
Hold Conference.
The conference with Mr.. Root was
House by Secretary Hughes. The
state department head saw the
President only briefly. but it was
considered probable that he may
have delivered SOU information on
the World court proposal requested
by the President at the cabine.
meeting.
Nothing developed after Represen-
tative Woods call to indicate that
his warning that continued advocacy
of the court proposal by the admin
istration would bring about a schism
in the republican party had any eff
feet on the President. Mr.. Wood
frankly said he detected no weaken
ing on the part of the President, and
later White House spokesman said
the executive received many visitors
bearing pessimistic views and often
was a rather helpless victim" tic
their representations.
Mr.. Wood explained that the views
he had presented to the President
were purely his personal ideas, but
added that scores of kilograms from
republican leaders and conferences
held during recent trip to Indiana
had convinced him that he stood far
from alone in believing that the
court issue was freighted with dan
ger to the solidarity to the repub-
lican party and to its success in the
1924 campaign.