Evening star., 1923-01-03
SECRECY MARKS
HARVEY PARLEy
WITH PRESIDENT
Efforts to Interview Diplomat
at White House FoiIed
by Officials.
AMBASSADOR EXPECTED
TO CALL UPON HUGHES
Joint Conference by Executive,
State Secretary and Envoy
Believed Planned.

The case of Europe was the most
important subject before both the
White House and the State Depsrt.
ment today, with the former receiy.
ing personal report from Col. Georrs
harvey, the American ambassador 10
Great Britain, and the latter listen.
ing In" on the conference Of premier,
in Paris.
Col. Harvey came to WASHINGTON
last night and was in conference with
PRESIDENT Harding virtually the en-
tire morning. He is expected to see
secretary of State Hughes either lata
To-Day or early tomorrow. and a con-
ference between the President, the
Secretary of State and the ambasga,
dor is likely to be held at the whi,o
House within the next twenty-four
hours.
Calling List Small.
President Hardings calling list was
Kept virtually clear today, his first
visitor being scheduled to arrive at
IL o'clock and the last at 1890 o'clock,
thus giving the Chief Executive prac-
tically an entire day for conference
with the ambassador to London. One
of the few persons admitted to the
Presidents office, however, was
Charles E. Mitchell, president of the
National City Bank of New York
Mr.. Mitchell was closeted with Presj-
dent Harding for more than halt
hour, but upon leaving declined "a
divulge the nature of his business
laughingly putting off questions by
saying: 1T was merely a personal
call"
Extraordinary care is being taken
to prevent the nature of the conver.
sation between President Harding and
Col. Harvey being published prema-
turely. While in Washington, he will
be guest at the White House, and
upon arriving here last night went
direct to the Presidents mansion
Maj. o. n. Selbert, military attache al
the American embassy in London, and
Chandler Cobb, assistant commercial
attache. accompanied the ambassador
TO Washington, and were registered
at local hotel.
Not "omciaIIy, Here.
Last night Col. Harvey declared he
would not consider himself to have
"oficially" arrived in the capital un,
til this morning, and that his pres
ence at the White House until then
would have no connection with affairs
in Europe. He is believed to have
gone into conference with the Presi-
dent Immediately after breakfast and
remained with him until the exec
utives callers began to arrive. Effort.
Of newspaper men to get In touch
with Col. Harvey while the President
was engaged otherwise were block
ed, however.
At the State Department ii was an
nounced that Col. Harvey mad made no
engagement with Secretary Hughes, but
that he was expected ito call" either
today or tomorrow 1t would not be
necessary, attaches said. for the am
bassador to make an appointment with
the Secretary of State more than halt
an hour OF SO in advance. Neither has
the Secretary of State an appointment
with the President, the same sources
declare, but a conference could be ar
ranged on short notice.
VIII Discuss Economics.
While Col Harvey is known to have
been recalled to discuss European con-
ditions generally with the President
and Secretary Hughes. the economic.
problem is regarded as the paramount
question to be discussed. His visit ap-
parently was timed to coincide with tho
conference of premiers in Paris.
Although the American government
may not be represented at that con-
ference, Undersecretary of State Phil
lips admitted to newspaper men this
morning that the United States is in
a position to know what is going on.
No reports had been received early
today, he said, but he indicated that
the State Department has reliable
sources of its own through which it
will receive comprehensive reports on
the discussion.
The conference this morning be-
tween Undersecretary Phillips and tho
newspaper men was unusually short,
the department making 1t evident
that IT thought the present time in
opportune for discussion of Euro
pean affairs. Mr.. Phillips remained
with the correspondents less than Ave
minutes. and when asked If the State
Department had Rny announcement to
make on reparations he closed the
meeting by repeating that no reports
had been received.