Date: April 5, 1927
Location: Washington, DC
(Original document available here)
A considerable number of inquiries about judgeships of the District Courts and Circuit Courts of the United States are made. All I can say about that is that no final determination has been made as to the filling of any of those vacancies. We are working away at it and I expect that within two or three days we will be able to make some appointments.
I have no information other than what has already been made public relative to any connection between any of the forces in China and the Russians. We are sending the 1500 troops that have already been announced to Shanghai, and about 1500 more troops. These troops, both marines, are being assembled at San Diego, California. Whether it will be necessary to send them or not we are not quite certain. In general, what we are doing is to undertake to be prepared to take care of our nationals as difficulties may arise in different localities at concentration points. For the south of China the concentration point is Shanghai, and it is possible that we may be compelled to take care of those from the north of China at Teintsin. The situation hasn’t developed enough so that we are certain about that. We hope there won’t be any necessity for it. We are looking ahead to be prepared to do that, should occasion arise. There is no change in relation to our cooperation with other powers in China. In these concentration points quite naturally the nationals of other countries come in and then the defense of the territory where they concentrate is one that is carried on jointly.
The principal matter of discussion in the Cabinet this morning was the situation in China, which was developed along the line that I have indicated.
I do not think that the declination of France to take any part in the naval limitation conference will materially affect the holding of the conference. We are disappointed, of course, that France isn’t willing to join in the discussion, but if France is not willing to take part in it we will naturally go ahead with the Japanese and the British, and possibly the Italians, if they come in.
I do not know of any intention on the part of Mr. Butler to resign, nor of Secretary Kellogg.
I had sent to me by some one that I do not happen to know an interesting cartoon that was in the issue of Harper’s Weekly, of July 18, 1885, which shows the White House as an intelligence office, meaning by that an employment bureau. It is labeled “What the Position of the President of the United States Really Is”. It shows President Cleveland, who had recently come into office, undertaking to provide positions for a great many applications, which leads me to suppose that the Presidential office hasn’t changed in some material aspects between that time and this. Over the door is the motto “E Pluribus Unum” or “Many for One Place”. President Cleveland evidently was able to cope with the situation.
Question: Mr. President, is that true of the situation today?
President: I don’t know as it is quite so bad now. Cleveland was a very able man and a great President, who perhaps has not yet been fully appreciated.
Question: They brought their baggage with them in those days.
President: The cartoon indicates that they did. A cartoonist’s history is not always absolutely accurate, but usually is somewhat representative.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge: Remarks by the President to Newspaper Correspondents
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