Date: April 1, 1927
Location: Washington, D.C.
(Original document available here)
The chance of my going to Buffalo to open the new International Bridge in June is quite remote. I have so many things that require my attention here in Washington now that it is going to be very difficult for me to get any time to go away or prepare addresses to be made.
I am appointing Colonel William B. Ladue of the Corps of Engineers to be the Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia. I think his term of service doesn’t begin until some time in June, but as it is necessary to make arrangements in the Army some time in advance the arrangement has been made to give notice of this appointment now. I think the War Department, or is it — here is a statement to be given out. Does that come from the War Department?
Mr. Sanders: War Department.
President: You can get his military record over there then.
I haven’t received any definite statistics on the amount of coal that is already above ground. Such information as has come to me is to the effect that there are 80 or more million tons. I do not contemplate any action relative to the cessation of mining of bituminous coal some of the bituminous coal regions. A great deal of the industry is going on, but there is some cessation of operations in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania.
There isn’t anything new in relation to the situation in China, except what has already been reported in the press. I shall probably make it a practice not to say very much about that, because I find that the statements I make in relation to it get sent over to Shanghai very much different in their form for publication over there from those that I make here. My information, of course, comes from the reports that are received at the State Department and the Navy Department, and all of those that are of public interest are given to the press.
Question: Are some more marines to be sent?
President: Yes, we are sending some more marines. That has already been announced, 1500, some of which started from here, some from Philadelphia, and are to be assembled on the West Coast. The Henderson is being sent up there from somewhere down the Cost and is to take them to Shanghai.
Question: Not in addition to this 1500?
President: No.
Question: Not a third regiment? You see there is one regiment over there and —
President: The one that I told you about the other day is the one I am referring to now. That is the 1500 that have recently been assembled here. It may be necessary at some future time to send more troops, but there are no plans now to send any more. Of course, it goes without saying that we are taking such action as we can to protect the property and persons of our nationals there. I do not expect to take any trip on the Mayflower this week.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge: Remarks by the President to Newspaper Correspondents
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