The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-21
HARDING HEARS
BOTH SIDES
ON LEAGUE
ceciPs Presence Seized on to
Promote Court PIan-Presi-
dent Still Silent. However.
By GEORGE r. HOLMES.
international News scrvice.

International News Seryice.
Pulled one way by members Of his
Cabinet who favor American en-
trance into the League of Nations
court. and tuggged the opposite way
by congressional leaders who fear
the political consequences of a party
fight, President Harding found him
self today the central point Of a
whirlwind of activity over the court
issue that has descended upon
washington in the last twenty-fcur
hours.
Thus far the President has listen
ed patiently to both sides Without
comment or visible effect. he has
listened to Congressman VIII II.
Wood Rep.) of Indiana, chairman
of the Congressional Campaign
Committee, tell of the dire conse-
quences which may descend upon
the party IL he pursues his policy
of putting the United States into the
league court. With equal reficence.
he has heard Elihu Root and Score
tary of State Hughes extol the
merits of the court proposal, and has
received their assurances that the
mass of public opinion" Is behind
the proposition.
May Speak Soon.
1t is probable. however. that the
next few days viii see Mr.. Harding
break his silence over the storm
that is now raging in his party
over the court issue. The Presi-
dent win deliver an address Tues
day in New York to several hum
dred newspaper editors, and he has
been advised strongly to seize upon
this occasion to strike telling
blow in defense OF his court pro-
posaIs. Both Root and Hughes be-
lieve the opportunity a golden one.
The President, however, Is repre-
scented as Ioati to take up the
cudgels for the court this early in
the game. Nothing but harm, both
to the proposal itself and to the
harmony of his party, can result
from continual agitation of the issue
before the public eight months be-
fore IL is possible to do anything
about 1t, in Mr.. Harding's opinion.
He is inclined TO the belief that If
the court issue is allowed to simmer
rather than boil during the long
recess, much of the opposition to IL
that is now so apparent viii melt
away gradually under the benign
heat of more immediate problems
affecting business and agriculture.
It viii be time enough, he believes,
to cross the court bridge when the
time comes-next December.
Cecil Aiding Work.
The renewed activity in Wash
ington over the court issue comes
coincidentaIly with the arrival in
the Capital of Lord Robert Cecil,
foremost exponent of the League of
Nations, who has just completed
a tour OF many American cities in
which he has extolled the merits OF
the League and the deesirability of
American membership.
Lord Robert called upon Presi-
dent Harding at the White House
today.
Prominent Republicans of pre-
Cecil's presence in the Capital to
bring divergent elements OF the
party together at social functions.
Last night Henry White. the only
Republican member of the Paris
peace commission, and a strong
advocate of the League and the
court, gave a dinner in CeciPs
honor The guests represented
nearly every shade of Republican
opinion concerning the court
ranging from the outspoken oppon-
ents like Senator Watson Of In
diana, and Senator Mccormick of
Illinois, to the outspoken advocates
like Secretary of Commerce Her
bert Hoover and Senator George
w. Pepper of pennsylvania.