Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-26
ASSOCLALTZONDF |
NATIONS FROM
ARMS CONCLAII
President Hopes For World
Organization to Result
From Conferences
GERMANY TO JOIN
Proposed Plan Calls For All Nations
to Sanction Agreements Reached by
Delegates.

Washington, Nov. 26.-President
Harding confidently expects the Con-
ference on the Limitation Of Arnla-
ments to evolve into an association
of nations.
This was learned authoritatively at
the White House yesterday and 1t
set at rest the speculation current
for months as to whether the Admin
istration's aim for the Conference was
limited to the agenda or was the first
step toward effectuation of the Presi-
dents declaration during his cam
paign for an association of nations
Mr.. Harding does not foresee the
exact structure the association will
assume. He still looks favorably, for
example, on the idea of an interna-
tional court of world justice, but ne
is not ready now to say whether one
will be part Of the association ne
cypects to see develop. So with other
features and details. He has not gone
that far in his mind and probably
will not for some time, being concern
trated upon the basic question.
But on that basic question his Judg-
ment is clear and definite. From this
Conference he looks to see other con-
ferences come, gradually expanding
in scope. Out Of them in time, how
soon the President is not prepared to
predict, he expects to see crystalii-
zation of the custom of nations gath
ering about the conference table for
discussion of the problems that al
feet some or all of them And thac
crystallization will be permanent
association of nations.
It is known that the President has
discussed the subject with number
of the leaders of the delegations mere
from other nations. and that the
thought that in his mind has been
given approval by them. 1t IS an m
tercsting and perhaps very slgnlfi-
cant fact that several of the leaders
of delegations here, notably. Arthur
]. Balfour and Rene Eivianl, have
been active and powerful in the work
of the League of Nations.
In this new association that the
(,prnllnE
have opportunity to be a member. IL
is the purpose of the Administration
it was learned, to invite the sanction
of Germany to the agreements reach
ed in the Conference on the limitation
of Armament along with those OF
ether nations, including the smaller
ones that are not members OF the
Conference That will introduce Ger
MANY into the society of the nations
and will establish her eligibility II
and when the association Of nations
develops.
No word has come about this Gov
ernment's attitude toward Russia. Ihe
Presidents confident expectation that
an association of nations is germinat-
ing is based on conviction that this
conference is a success. He regards it
as more successful than he had really
hoped it to be-so successful that lt
is certain that the practice Of ma
tions gathering voluntarily and fire.
uuently about the conference table
for discussion has been established
as a normal international institution.
With the work of this Conference
handled successfully the President be-
lieves and the peace and stability of
the world forwarded in a considerable
degree the nations will turn natural
" TO new conferences to handle mat
ters that will still be hanging fire.
These may be separations and debts
between the nations that are held
generally to be delaying the return
to narmaI economic relations. They
may land armaments or they may be
hangover problems in the Far East.
AS conference after conference is
held dealing with subject after sub
ject that ramifies throughout interna-
tioanl affairs, it is to be expected that
more and more nations will be gather
ed about the table, until ultimately
there will be what will amount to.
gathering of all the nations Of the
world, finding its main authority in
the moral power of world public op-
inion.
All OF this involves, Of course the
possibility that the League of Ma
tions will be used as basis, after
amending it's covenant to meet the
views of the United States. It may
be that the League will be shelved if
the association that President Hard
ing has in mind comes into being. Or
it may be that ways will be found to
reconcile the positions taken in the
past by Mr.. Harding with the work.
ing machinery of the League.