Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-16
COOLIDGE CONFERS
. ON GENEVA FARLEY
President and Kellogg Dis.
cuss Invitation for U. S.
Participation.
nv !. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge will give con
siderable thought to the invitation
from the League of Nations before he
reaches a decision as to American par
ticipation in the arms limitation con.
ference II is to hold in Geneva.
While Mr.. Coolidge Is known to he
deeply interested in the subject of
dis4 rmament he has indicated that
he q going to ponder a. long time be
fore he acts
The President held his first confer
ance regarding this invitation since II
arrived at the State Department yes
terday with Secretary Of State Kellogg
today.
Hopes for Arms Reduction.
II IL the sincere hope Of the Prest
dent that Europe will enter upon a
plan for reduction in land ar1nan nts.
He contends that America has reduced
It's land forces to the very minimum
while the majority of the nations of
Europe have not.
According to his way of thinking It
seems clear that it is the reduction of
armies rather than of navies that is
Of the first importance now. He will
give any movement looking 10 this
end appreciation and encoura cement
whether or not he accepts the league
y
reduction is accomplished, he be-
lieves this country then can more
easily consider the question of fIrt her
naval reduction.
Attitude Of Kellogg.
Secretary kellocg's prohah le atti
tude is taken by MANY to have been
indicated in his speech III New York
! Monday night. when he declared that
, the United States would go the limit
in cooperating for the reha bilitation
IF Europe so long as II did not become
involved in its political tangles and
military alliances. II Is understood
that information has been received
from Europe that the commission to
which the United States has been in
vited to assign delegates will be void
Of political OF other entanslements.
If the state Department is CON
WINGED that the United States need
have no fear Of becoming involved h,-
participating, il may he that Score
! tary Kellogg will inform the Presi-
dent that. in hiz opinion it would be
desirable for the United States to send
A delegation.
But in some official quarters II is
! felt that Secretary kellogg. while he
will call this point 10 III. President S
attention. Is not going 10 make any
| suggestion that the invitation he &C.
cepted
! Some inkling that the President is
going 10 hesitate a long time before
accepting the leagues offer and thai
ne is considering putting the matter
M n Congress. has already been
given. He has told friends that Con.
sress should first sanction the idea of
/ America joining this proposed parley
3 h>Fa H., 1,
! quire congressional appropria ton n
defray the incidental expenses.
Effect on Court Proposal.
II Is pointed out that the World
Court proposal comes no tomorrow
! and during the prolonged debate an
ticipated in connection with the dis
cussion of this subject il is thought
/ that the opponents and other league
irreconcilibles will be in fine fettle To
voice their opposition to this invitation
from the league. There are some who
fear that If the leagues arms invita-
ton is put before Congress before the
World Court protocol has been dis
posed of the chances of defeating the
! latter will he greatly increased
The Presidents intimates believe
, that he will dispose OF this invitation
finally merely by stating that n is
his understa nding that official partici-
patton must have the express an
prova1 of the Congress and that there
must be congressional appropria tons.
and therefore he will leave the mat.
ter to Congress.
There is no disputiug the fact that
President Coolidge has not looked
with favor upon the proposed league
conference from the very first. Ee
had numerous times announced his
desire to call a second Washington
arms conference Ions before word
/ came from Europe that the league
was to hold one. The President put
aside his own ideas. fearing that they
might injure the plans being formu-
| lated by the league. but 1t is known
that his wish for another conference
here has not diminished.
His general policy is one of further
disarmament. and he believes that
this country should not hesitate 10
adopt any plan known to be pra ctical