OCR Text |
Show HUGHES STRONG FOR PUBLICITY, HE TELLS PRESS Harding's Secretary of State Makes Known Policy on Giving Out Mews "ALL THE FACTS STATE QUESTIONS WILL PERMIT'' Noted Lawyer Declares He is Happy to Be Chosen for Next Cabinet ST. AUGUSTINE. Fla.. Feb. 19 Charles E- Hughes, former supremo rourt justice and Republican nominee for tho presidency, was designated by President-elect Harding today as the new secretary of state The announcement announce-ment embod ng the first official word from the president-elect regarding selections se-lections for his cabinet v.a6 made In an oral statement ufler a long conference confer-ence between the two men on foreign problems. There was no element of surprise in tho selection for it had been known for several weeks Mr. Hughes virtually was certain to be given giv-en the place. He 1b understood to have been Mr. Harding's choice from the first. HUGHES I'l l M l. Mr. Harding declined to go Into details about the subjects discussed with Mr- Hughes, raying that one of the policies of his administration! would he to let each department, head speak for himself. Mr Hughes declared de-clared no public statement on the problems ahead would bo expedient at p resent "(if course." he added. "I appraise i. aa a great fr!ilge to be invited by Senator Hurdln.' to Ferro In his administration. And 1 regard it as m Imueratlve obligation to accept." i:ii.o.i 1 1 pi .si It was generally understood, however, how-ever, that diplomatic appointments to be made early in tho admlnl.stratlon furnished one topic and lhat there was consideration also of tho preliminary prelim-inary steps to be taken toward an association as-sociation of mnlons. The discussion regarding appointments was more or lest Indefinite. It being Mr. Harding's policy to delai' moat of the diplomatic selections until ofter Inauguration. The general impression among those close to the president-elect Is that tho first diplomatic approaches to other nations In regUrd to a peace association associa-tion will be of an Informal character-HlGIIUs character-HlGIIUs giAlJlil.D. No official diplomatic correspondence correspond-ence is expected on the subject and no formally accredited diplomatic mls-Blons mls-Blons are likely to be sent abroad until un-til tho attitude of other powers has been felt out quietly and some basis tor negotiation established. Mr. Hughes will bring to tho secretaryship sec-retaryship of state a legal training of unusual scope- us veJi as a mind sympathetic sym-pathetic to International HKiecrnent end for maintenance of peace During the treaty fight, he advocated reserved reserv-ed ratification of the Versailles league and proposed several reservations which were considered by the senato majority. ONE "BEST MIND. In the national campaign last ear Mr Harding held ono of hl longest, conferences with Mr Hughes, and when "tho conferences of best minds" began at Marlon In December, fie was first to be summoned- Th. only question Mr Hughes was Willing to answer tonight as to the policies of his department relate to publicity. Asked whether he Intended Intend-ed to follow the precedent of the present administration In holding periodical per-iodical conferences with newspaper men, he replied with an emphatic affirmative, af-firmative, adding that he wanted to give the fairest publicity to every department de-partment question that would p rmlt Although the conferences with Mr Hughes occupied virtu ill-, si ih" president-elect's attention today, he had several other callers. Including Chairman Fordney of the house (rays and means committee, who discussed tariff legislation, and Manuel Angelo, a representative of the Cuban Liberal party, who asked that the American government aid in guaranteeing fall elections in Cuba. |