The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-04-27
NATIONS CHIEF IS
GUEST: PRESS men
Arrived In New York City
This Morning
SPOKE AT LUNCH
Moye In Harmony With Plat
form Pledges of
: -" p,rfv
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1

New York. April 24.-Presi-
dent Harding arrived at the
Pennsylvania station shortly at
ter six o'clock this morning, pre-
pared to make the first OF
series of several addresses plan
ned for the spring and summer.
He will speak today to members
Of The Associated Press in their
annual meeting. Cheered by
sturdy band of commuters, Pres
ident Harding arrived today at
FASTENED with his party to the
Waldorf Astoria hotel where lat
er in the day he was scheduled
to address the annual meeting
Of The Associated Press.
New York, April 24-Participation
by the United States in the world
court as proposed by the administra-
ion, President Harding. today, de-
:lared at the annual luncheon of
members of The Associated Press,
would be I'm harmony with party
platform pledges, candidatorial pro-
misses and American aspiration" and
would not be an entry into the
Eeage Of Nations "by the side door,
the back door or the cellar door,"
Excessive friends of the league"
The president declared have be-
slouded the situation by an unwar-
ranted assumption that the propos
nj is a move toward membership in
The league" while, he added, the ir-
reconcilable opponents of the league
have also beclouded the question
with the assumption that entangle-
ments with Europe would unavoid-
ably follow.
No Fear EntanaIements
The fear of entanglements the
president dismissed with the blunt
declaration that II the senate were
to consent to any, his administration
would not complete ratification OF
such proposal and would thereby
prevent it from becoming effective.
Reiterating his conviction that the
United States could not participate in
the world court without assuming
the risks which it's opponents point
out, President Harding reviewed the
republican party platforms since
1904, all Of which, he pointed out.
spoke for a world court of arbitral
Justice and added: IL believe in
keeping the faith II political par
Ties do not mean what they say and
candidates do not mean what they
say then our form of popular gov
eminent is based on fraud and can
not hope to endure"
But the president left no doubt
that he has no intention OF moving
toward the League of Nations By his
support Of the world court.
"In compliance with its pledges"
he said, the administration defin
itely and decisiyely put aside all
thought Of the United States enter
ing League of Nations. 1t doesn't
propose to enter now by the side
door, the back door or the cellar
door. ! have no unseemly comment
to offer on the league. If 1t is serv-
ing the Old World helpfully, more
power to it. But it is not for US.
The senate has so declared, the ex-
have so declared. Nothing could be
more decisively stamped with fin
atty"
Arms Conference Called
"In fulfillment of the pledge OF
the free conference. the information
al conference on the Limitation of
armament was called, not In haste,
not because someone was prodding
but as early as the barriers to sue
cess could be removed. The spirit
Of that conference and the achieve
ment wrought have been written
into history, and will grow immeas-
ureably beyond the almost univers,,
al popular favor already accorded.
There was not alone the triumph in
reducing naval ornaments and end
ing competition which was leading
to oppressive naval strength and ad-
ding staggering burdens to the trea-
surfes of competing powers; not
alone the removal of every war
cloud and every reason for conflict
in the Pacific. so that now accord
and concord abide, where suspicion
and fear had previously dwelt; but
we gave an example to the world OF
the conference way to peace, which
time will appraise as the supreme
ACCOMPLISHMENT. Hardly had this
gratifying work been accomplished
before the administration began its
endeavors for further fulhllment."
No Party Question
Mr.. Harding made it plain that he
did not consider the world court
question paramount to all other ma
tional problems and added that nei-
ther did he hold it menace to par
ty unity, evidently having in mind
the warning issued by some repub-
licans within the last few weeks.
"It is not to be classed as a party
QUESTION, ne COuliuuou, uuI IL any
party repeatedly advocating a>world
court, is to be rended by the sug.
gestion of an effort to perform in
accordance with its pledges, II needs
q new appraisal of its assets"
Sensing one Of the principal argu-
ments. TO be used by opponents OF
the administration proposal, the
claim that the United States would
be placed at a disadvantage in the
election ofIjudges b the court, to the
disparity in the national vot-
ing power in the league assem-
bly,, the president said he frank
ly recognized this as a political
bugbear" but added that inasmuch
as no nation could have more than
one Judge II was less Of an objection
than when applied to the league it
self
Although the question Of the world
court formed the burden Of the presi-
dents address, he also bespoke a
word for the establishment of a
merchant marine, deplored lack OF
party loyalty and the organization
Of groups or blocs to serve group
interests, and urged that the prim :
airy be made an agent OF indisputable
party expression rather than a
means Of party confusion or destruc-
ton.
The Address As Given
The address OF the president fol
lows: During the closing days OF