Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-12
SPECULATION RIFE
ON HUGHES ACTION
Observers Think Return to
Law Not Only Retirement
Reason.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Much water will flow beneath the
| bridges of the Potomac before specu-
lation ceases over the resignation of
Charles Evans Hughes as Secretary
of State. Mr.. Hughes expressed de-
sire to rebuild his private law. prac-
tice after 20 years of public service
is universally believed to be the
broad reason for this retirement, but
there is far less agreement as to
the collated motives that governed
his decision to retire at this partic-
ular juncture. 1t Is on that score that
official Washington, which has not
yet recovered from the shock and
surprise of the Secretary OF States
action, is puzzled and guessing.
To this writer comes a suggestion
that has many elements of plausibil-
ity. 1t is understood among insiders
that when Calvin Coolidge delivers
his first inaugural address March 4
he will reveal himself along lines OF
policy original and independent be-
yond anything hitherto exhibited. He
will be President in his own right
He will be liberated from his public
pledge of August 3, 1928, to carry
out Harding policies" The thought
is finding expression in many re-
sponsible quarters that foreign policy
is one of the realms in which Mr.
Coolidge will branch out on his own
account.
r 1t Is an open secret that thus far
the President has accepted, approved
and pursued the policies bequeathed
to him by the Harding administration.
In that administration and since the
influence of Charles Evans Hughes
upon our foreign relations has been
paramount. There probably is not a
major affair in which he did not map
out and recommend the program
eventually adopted, whether it was
the United States attitude toward
German reparations, non-recognition
of Soviet Russia, or Japanese exclu-
sion. In virtually no case, of which
the public has knowledge, has any,
thing but the views of Secretary
Hughes prevailed.
Counsel Accepted.
1t is his own habit to refer to him
self, lawyer-iike. as the general
counseT of the administration; and
the counsel he's given has been ac-
cepted and acted upon. There are few
State Department regimes on record
in which the head of the department
lidS sway SO Iully as CnaTleS
Evans Hughes since March, 1921.
Now, If President Coolidge intends
taking the helm in foreign policy to
a more vigorous extent than hitherto,
authorities point out that Mr.. Hughes
isn't the type or the temperament
that would At easily into a new pic
ture of that kind.
The President and his Secretary of
State have co-operated in the past
without any noticeable indication of
friction. Some persons thought they
the White House issued a disclaimer
of the published statement that Mr..
Coolidge had "rebuked" the French Am
bassador. But the circumstances under
which the White House statement was
issued were rather proof of the smooth
liaison maintai ined with the State De-
partment than otherwise.
Borah Seen As Cause.
There's another explanation on many
we'll posted lips for Mr.. Hughes sud
den abandonment of post which,
everybody knows, he has enjoyed as no
other work he ever did in his life Will
liam E Borah Is now chairman of the
Senate committee on foreign relations
Borah and Hughes speak as they pass
by, and have good deal Of mutual re-
spect for each other. But there is hard
1y a single important feature of Amer
lean foreign policy on which these two
dynamic, forceful personalities see eye
(Continued on PAGE 8, Column s.