New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-15
Arms Parley
Program, Sent
Powers by u. S.
Issues Washington Believes
Conference Should Con
slider Outlined for the
Preliminary Discussions
Delegates Names Asked
Open Door in China. Status
of Manchuria and Siberia
and Mandates Mentioned

FROM The 1raoane's washington Bured1
wASHIN GTON. Sept. 14.-The
American government has forwarded
to the powers invited to participate
IN the forthcoming Conference on the
Limitation of Armament and Far East
ern questions tentative draft CT the
subjects which it is believed mere
should properly come before the gath
ering. it was disclosed to-day
State Department.
Each Of the invited nations has been
asked to accept the subjects suggest
ed as the basis on which the program
COR the conference may be built. The
American program, 1t was made plain,
was nothing more than a suggestion
to the other nations OF the subjects
TO engage the attention of the con-
ference The list OF questions is ex-
uected to form the subject OF CONVEX
sations between the six nations in
working out the definite program OF the
conference.
The Open Door in China
While the State Department with
held the list OF suggested subjects. it
IS understood that in addition to the
obvious question of reduction of arma-
men. the American program calls for
The inclusion in the Far Eastern dis
cussions the subject OF the open door
in China, respect Tor the sovereignty
of nations. the status of Manchuria
general subject of mandates, and the
question Of the Chinese Eastern Rail-
way.
The point was made by officials to-
day that the agenda suggested by this
government was by no means fixed but
was to be considered by the invited
powers as the groundwork on which
could eventually be built the definite
program of subjects to come before the
conference. 1t was explained that in
asmuch as President Harding initiated
the conference it was expected that
this government would also offer
tentative draft of the program so that
all the nations involved could have an
opportunity to respond with their sug-
gestions as to the scope OF the con-
ference
Informal Replies Expected
In suggesting the general lire the
work OF the conference should take,
it is believed here that immediate
informal conversations will ensue be-
tween the State Department and the
Foreign Offices Of Great Britain,
France, Italy, Japan and China, out of
which the major matters of Importance
10 occupy the attention of the assem-
bled nations will be definitely fixed
The suggested subjects were not for
warded to Holland and Belgium, as
these nations have not yet been off
cially invsted to attend. Once invited,
the plan is to apprise the foreign of
ices Of these countries of the program
outlined, and ask their suggestions 50
Jar as the Far Eastern subjects are
concerned.
While no response has as yet been
received from the nations addressed
by the State Department, it is con-
idently believed here that little diff
iculty will be encountered in mapping
out the general line of work that will
confront the conference. The powers
have been informed that the purpose
Of this government has never been to
dictate what subjects should be in
GUIDED, or what topics should be ex-
Guided from the agenda of the con-
terence, and the American communica-
ton contains assurances that the sub
jects enumerated are not to be ac-
cepted as the unalterable view OF this
government.
The whole plan, it is known, was sub
mitted TO the powers for the purpose
OF starting the conversations which will
eAsue OF me aGenda. ana LhaL sympa-
thetlc attitude will be accorded the
views Of all governments by the Ameri-
can Foreign Office
Along with the agenda of the confer
ence the invited nations have been
officially asked TO inform this govern
ment of the personnel Of the various
delegations.
The representatives of each govern
ment participating in the conference
sessions will include four members
put accompanying each delegation will
be large staff of advisers, experts
on military, naval, economic and fnan-
clal subjects, and corps of interpre-
The desire of the British domiaions