The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-07-21
Harding's Plan for Armament
Reduction Conference Is
Well Received.
INVITED NATIONS ACCEPT
Pacific and Far East Problems Also
VIII Be Dlscussed-Irish Peace
Meetings Begin - President
Asks Senate to Defer Sol
dier Bonus Bill.
BY EDWARD W. PicKARD.

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The United States last week resumed
Its leadership Of international affairs,
and President Harding's world policy
unfolded In way that leads his warm
supporters to believe his plans for an
association Of nations to preserve the
peace of the world are on the eve Of
fulfilment. This comes about through
the Presidents invitation to Great
Britain, France, Italy and japan to
send representatives to disarma-
ment reduction conference In Wash
ington. and his suggestion that the
meeting, II held, also undertake a set
tlement of the Pacific and Far Eastern
problems, China being asked to par
ticipate In that part of the confer
ence.
OF course, the invitation was infor-
NAL In nature, but the nations named
have received 1t with acclaim, and all
have signified their willingness to &C
cept the formal invitation when II II
Issued, so Il may be considered Ger
tain that the conference will be
held. probably in the coming autumn
| or possibly early next year. All the
world is evincing intense interest In
the plan. and certain of the lesser pow
ers are eager to take part I'm the great
conference. That the discussion will
not be limited to the subjects men,
toned Is almost beyond doubt, and
| there Is reason to believe that the as
sociation of nations with which Pres
ident Harding hopes to supplant the
League Of Nations will be born at
the Washington conference.
Not only did the President forestall
the action of congress, which was
passing finally on the naval bill con-
tanning the Borah amendment asking
the President to negotiate nfvui hos-
| iday with Great Britain and Japan
he also went further than Borah and
his followers desired and broadened
| the proposition to include land arm
aments. 1t was feared by many that
Italy, and especially France. would
refuse to reduce their military
strength France feels that she must
be guaranteed against another attack
by Germany. and Italy's main
strength is her army Borah and
ornaments might defeat the whole
plan, but the administration thinks
| their fears are groundless and that an
agreement for naval reduction may be
reached II the question Of reducing
armies Is found embarrassing. Indeed,
the governments of France and Italy
were as prompt as that of Great Britain
10 accept Mr.. Harding's invitation.
China's approval Of the plan came
next, and Japan, after carefully con-
sidering the Far Eastern phase Of the
matter, Instructed Its embassy at
Washington to accept, so far as
armament reduction Is concerned.
Before President Harding issued the
Informal invitations, the leading states
men Of Great Britain were consulted
by Ambassador Harvey and also By
DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler. who was
reported TO be unofficially assisting
Mr.. Harvey in the matter. II is said
they informed Washington Of the
psychological moment for taking ac-
tion. Then Doctor Butler went to
Paris and talked with French leaders,
and told correspondents that Presi-
dent Mlllerand was highly enthusiastic
over the American plan. French and
British statesmen agree with me that
President Hardlngs proposal marks q
turning point In the history Of the
world" said Doctor Butler.
Premier Lloyd Georges announce
ment Of the project to the house OF
commons and OF the governments ap-
proval OF II was greeted with pro-
longed cheering. A few days later
there was talk In London Of separate
conference there on Pacific matters
before the Washington meeting. be-
cause the premierJ Of Australia and
New Zealand said II would be impcs-
sible for them to go home and return
To America almost Immediately. When
this suggestion reached Washington
the administration let II be known that
efforts TO divert any part Of the pro-
posed conference from the American
capital would not be acceptable.
II was said Lloyd George and Lord
Curzon, foreign minister, would come
as the representatives OF Great Brit
ain. and this stirred up an amusing
row over there. The Tines declared
editorially that neither OF those men
Is fitted "by his position. his tempers-
ment. and his past career to take a d.
rect part In these negotiations
The premier retorted with an order
that representatives OF the Times, the
Continued on Page Six)