Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-26
HARDlNC'S PLAN TO
MAKE CONFERENCE
PERMANENT BODY
Continued from page /,

luton, which contains the possibili-
ties OF, world success. First the con-
ference was authorized to discuss the
matter of limitation OF naval arma-
ment. The Allied and Associated
Powers were invited to attend. Then
II was seen that the problems of the
Pacific presented sore spots on the
surface of international peace. r So
1t was decided that those nations in
tercsted In matters in the Far East
should also be invited. They were.
Now the Conference is busIy at
work dclving into the very heart of
dif'icu!tics on the other side of the
philippines. There is the greatest be-
'lct in Administrative circles that the
entire Conference will be successful
beyond the expectations of the Presi-
dent who called it.
III this successful ending comes
about. the smaller nations will be i'm
modiately asked to participate-not
before the Conference formally ad-
iourns, but after a definite agreement
has been reached and promulgated to
the peoples of the world. We might
even expect Germany to receive a
bid along with the other nations.
"There are questions which will
come up from time to time which can
be settled around the conference table.
and there is no reason to leave any
nation out"
IL is stated, on authority, that the
President has no plan of his own to
lay before the delegates. For that mat
ter, the initiative will not come from
him. 1t is expected that the dele
gates. possibly concurrently, will state
their desire for such an organization.
II. and when such is done the Presi-
dents heartiest approval is expected.
kBut in no sense will he lead the way,
or even advance the idet publicly to
the Conference. 1t is merely the Ad-
ministration's wish that such happy
results may be attained. That wish
| stands all the more chance for success
! now that II is known, as stated above
that several of the delegates harbor
/ the same desire.
1t might as well be stated that this
hoped-for association, If achieved, Will
not be of the formal character of the
League of Nations, born at Versailles
The belief is precalent here htat
ratification of a formal treaty by the
Senate will not be necessary. 1t IS
known that the present Administra'
ton holds a mans word to be as gooo
as his bond, and that it believes thai
the time has arrived. internationally
speaking, when a nations word is a.
acceptable as n pieos of paper VIII
SIGNATURES written formally on II. II
the past those papers sometimes have
become scraps. The Administrators
holds that the nations gathered here
regard their word sacredly.
IL may be stated here, parentheti'
cally, that a "gentlemen's agreement
would prevent any fight being made
i'm the Senate against the ratification
of the conference results. BY this
do not mean to imply that the Con
gross is not in accord with the Ad
ministration's views. / may say tina
I the Congress is in the fullest agree
! ment, and may be expected, as
whole, to approve heartily of any
action which the Presidents repre-
sentatives at the Conference table may
agree upon. But it is no secret tha
certain elements in our national lie
are already preparing to make figh
upon any agreement which may b'
reached. Those elements, through Ger
/ taAn channels, notably certain chair
Of newspapers, have already begun Il
bark at the Conference. They hav'
lun-limbered their guns against Grea
Britain and Japan. and are proclaim
ling to the world their high and loft,
patriotism-a patriotism which wishe
q Uncle Sam to remain armed to tn
teeth. The causes for that desire ar
too well known for me to enter Int
a detailed discussion of them here
Those dement's in question might EN-
, barrass the Administration by enlist
! ing under their banner certain dis
, satisfied statesmen, who could at leas
, make a warm, and possibly a long
! drawn out fight in the Senate.
I By all this l do not mean that n
/, formal treaty will be presented to tn
4 Senate. That viii be done if any c
5 the Nations represented demand j
= But with the United States willing I
accept a "gentleman's word" it
a thought that the other nations wi
S express the same confidence.
Certain persons close to the Ad
ministration hold that this desire
: evolution of the Conference into
= permanent association would be tn
carrying out Of one of Mr.. Harding
= campaign pledges, which extende
hope TO those who had wished th
Nation TO enter the Versailles Leagu
But this association, if formed, wi
o not give specific promises such as ii
I Versailles group gave, nor will it a
: tempt to re-adjust all conditions of a
nations represented.
|, Rather, it will be like new concer
? which opens for business withol
? obligating itself TO adjust the past al
disordered affairs of the respectiv
: members of the firm. 1t would pref,
} TO handle current problems, with on
Q the reference required TO past event
e In no sense would it attempt TO. n
: make the world. The attempt wou
; be made to present international ma
/ ters before the public in such a maj
ner that the public's Representative
would attempt to adjust them sati
: iactorily for the benefit Of the many
One cannot go too far in saying tn
the President is in no sense dictatir
> his desire for an association of natiol
!, TO the delegates in Washington. tt
/, truth is that he is doing no dictatir
f whatsoever. The only formal cor
munication which he has given to Il
Conference was that opening addre,
: which to a certain sense was re
e keynote praying Tor universal peace
4 The American delegates are co
J. Quoting the American end of the Co
x ference. But if those delegates shou
q agree with the foreign ienresenta tiN