The Topeka state journal., 1921-11-12
Limitation of Arms Farley
Opened by the President.
Statesmen of the World Powers
Listen to Him.
UTTERS HOPE AND WARNING
Secret Intrigue Can Accomplish
Nothing for World Good.
People Universally Are Crying
for Lighter Burdens.

Continental Hall, Washington, Nov.
12.-In a terse. businesslike speech.
Stripped of all diplomatic verbiage
and niceties of International express
sions, President Harding officially
opened the momentous armament
conference here this morning with the
brief outline of Americas position
clean hands. honest intentions and
| high hopes.
i Gentlemen of the conference said
the president, 1.-The United States well
comes you with unselfish hands. We
harbor no fears; we have no sordid
ends to serve; we suspect no enemy;
we contemplate no conquest. Content
/ with what we have, we seek nothing
which is another's. We only wish to
| do with you that finer, nobler thing
which no nation can do alone"
i Worlds Statesmen Listened.
| The president spoke from the head
| of the great U-shaped table, around
which sat in rapt attention the states
men of Europe and Asa. To the
right of him sat France and Japan.
| to the left Great Britain and ItaSy and
down at the far end of the horseshoe
were the representatives OF China,
Belgium and Portugal.
On either side of him at the end of
the table was the head of Americas
representatives. The galleries above
were crowded with the entire MEM
bership of house and senate. members
| of the cabinet, Justices of the su-
preme court and diplomats.
i can speak officially only for our
/ united States, continued the presf-
dent. "Our hundred millions frankly
want less of armament and none Of
tNFar. Wholly free from guile, sure in
Jour minds that we harbor no unworthy
designs, we accredit the world with
the same good intent"
Both Hope and Warning.
| The president voiced both hope
hope that out of this conference may
come international peace and a better
Understanding among nations and a
warning that these things cannot be
accomplished by the secret intrigue
THAT has defeated the aims of so many
international gatherings.
This is not 20 be done in intrigue"
/ he said earnestly, greater assurance
/ is found in exchanges of simple hon
| esty and directness."
The possibilities of this. conference,
the president pointed out, are enor-
nous. The world is crying for means
| of Tightening burdens. longing for a
clearer understanding that prevent 1t
being again set aflame by war. And
out of this gathering. the president
voiced the hope that would come these
very things.
The Presidents Speech.
| The presidents speech in full is as
follows:
Mr.. Secretary and Members OF the Con-
ference Ladies and and Gentlemen, Gentle en,y,,soo "a
bid the delegates to this conference
Siad fgTfa sTotss 0 dee Is not % on
/ satisfaction to greet you, because =e
were lately participants IN common
rows and triumphs brought cur nations
more closely together, but 1t is gratify-
ing to address you as the sp9kesm9en Lee
actions have as much to do with the veal
/ or of all mankind.
1T is not possible to over-appraise the
importance of such 4 conference 1t Is
no unseeInly boaEt. no disparagemene Of
other nations. which. tho not represented,
are held in highest respect, TO declare that
the conclusions Of this body will have a
! signal Influence on all human progress
on the fortunes Of the world.
Civilization Is Awakened.
Here is a meeting. ] can well believe,
which is an earnest Of the awakened con-
science Of twentieth century civilization.
/ 1t is not n convention Of remOrse. nor Il
session Of sorrow 1t is not the conference
| Of vfctors to define terms Of settlement.
remake humankind. 1t Is rather a COM
ing together. from all parts Of tine earth;
to apply the better attributes Of mankind
to minimize the faults in our international
reln tionships.
3. NcleaklnE as oIlclal sponsor Ior tIle
invitation, ! think | may say the call Is
/ not of the United States Of America alones
1t is rather the spoken word Of war
wearied world, struggling for restoration,
hungering and thirsting for better reia.
tionship; Of humanity crying for relief
and craving assurance Of lasting peace
Must Forget Hate.
at is easy to understand this world
wide aspiration. The glory Of triumph, the
rejoicing In achievement, the love OF lib
erty. the devotion to country. the pangs
of sorrow. the burdens. of debt the DESC
in all lands. Here in the United States We
are but freshly turned from the burial
OF IN unknown American soldier. when
natien sorrOwed while paying him tribute.
dred millions Of our people we're sum
marking the inexcusabie cause. the IN
calcuiahle cost. the unspeakable sacrifices.
and the unUtterable sorrOws. and there
humanity justify or God forgiyes Human
hate demands such toll. ambition and
greed must De denied II. II nisunaer-
standing must take the blame. then Jet -
Danish IT, and let understanding rule and
make good Will regnant every where
"Aii Of US demand liberty md. justice.
There cannot be one without the other,
and they mast be held the unquesroned
possession Of ali peoples. Inherent rights
4 re Of God. and the tragedies nf tlIe world
originate in their attempted denial The
world today is infringing their enjoyment
by arming to defend deny. when sim
PIE sanity calls for their recognition thru
common understanding
New Aspirations Now.
'sOut Of the cataciysm Of the world war
came new fellowship. new convictions new
aspirations. 1t is ours to make the most
Of them A world staggering with debt
needs its burden lifted Humanity which
has been shocked by ~auton destruction