New-York tribune., 1921-11-05
Arms Advisory
Council Be
Big A. Buffer
Mirror of Public Opinion ON
Chief Problems, Function
of Group, Which Also Is
to Consider Questions
Harvey Speech Surprises
At Odds With Policy Not to
Cause Irritation Abroad,
Washington Points Out
Bv Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. At became
evident to-day that the advisory COM
mittee Of the Conference on Limitation
of Armament is to play much more
important part than had been expected.
The necessity for having men and
women of the calber selected by Pres
ident Harding for this group now ap-
pears for the first time. Already the
President, in conference with the
American Big Four, mas selected ques-
tions which will be referred to the ad-
visory committee for consideration
The committee, incidentally, will be
Immediately divided into sub-commit-
tees, and much, if not most, of its work
will be done in that way, thus escaping
the cumbe,somenes of an auxiliary OF
twenty-one persons.
AT the White House it was not
thought wise to make public at this
time what the questions already de-
clded upon for reference to the adj
visory committee are, but it was said
that they were of grave Importance.
Will Report Public Opinion
In the view of President Harding the
committee is reaction agency" Put
in apother phrasing by a member Of
! the Big Four, it is buffer committee"
The thought is that the committee will
be. able to present to the Big Four,
from time to time, fairly accurate
cross section of American public opin-
ION on any particular question under
negotiation.
1t might report, for example, the case
of course being pure.y speculative, that
the American people were much aroused
and bitterly opposed to the suggestion
under consideration that the Japanese
control of important strategic railroads
in China be permitted without further
objection. Or it might report that
American public opinion would never
stand for this country risklng stale
mate at the conference by insisting
that the Japanese abandon the German
concessions in Shantung, and getting
out bag and baggage.
This is only one Of the functions
it was indicated that the advisory
committee will perform, bat it is felt
to be an extremely important one for
several reasons. For one tang, the
four American delegates themselves
win need to devote their attention
with as much concentration as possi-
Bile to their neg tiations with the rep
reSentatives OF the otner powers. lHey
will not be able, certainly, to devote
any considerable portion of their time
to studying public sentiment on these
questions.
President Harding would like to
spare them such an expendlt re OF
time as would be required to listen to
delegations which it is feared will be
pouring in from al over tie country
to demand that this or that be done.
In some way, however, it IS. realized,
expressed public sentiment. digested
and analyzed as much as possible.
must be htered to the American big
four, and the advisory, com nittee, CT,
rather, its various subdivisions will
it is believed, be an excellent instru-
me-ta'i'v ec~ th;~ nprncse.
President Har.'ing to-day signed the
commissions Of the members of the
advisory committee most of whom, i'
net already here, will be here by next
Wednesday ct tn, latest. when the first
tcsnhElsA sa ssxt sasU