The New York herald., 1921-09-26
OPEN ARMS AGENDA
. SOUGHT BY NATIONS
Their Fear of Commitments in
Notes Causes Much Delay
in Preliminaries.f
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. O., Sept. 26.
Fear of commitments In the agcnda
proposed by the United States is result
ing in a delay in preparation Of the
programme of the arms conference. The
nations are seeking to inform them
selves on just what is to be included in
the programme. These informal con-
versations are going on chiefly at
Toxic, Paris and London. No formal
opposition has been raised against the
American suggestion, but 1t is clear the
nations are not ready to accept the
agenda without careful consideration.
The date Of the conference is ap-
proxmately only six weeks hence. 1t is
believed confidently here that the
agenda will not be definitely accepted
until the conference meets. The con-
versations now in process will smooth
most of the differences, but such ques-
tions as the status of commitments
and various topics under the general
Far Eastern holdings will require far
more careful consideration than is pos
sible by long distance conversation.
After formally convening on Novem-
ber IL the delegates will go to Arlington
Cemetery to participate in the ceremony
connected with the burial OF an unknown
American soldier The President will
speak and the following day he will
deliver another address formally OPEN
ing the conference in the building of the
Pan-American Union.
This relationship between the two
events has in mind the sacrifice the man
hood of the world made in the war as
an added powerful argument In reaching
some form OF settlement which will rem
dor less likely a repetition OF anything
like the world war
In his address at Arlington the Presi-
dent will deal with the sentiment of the
occasion. In opening the world confer
ence he will deal with probabilities.
There ia no doubt in the minds OF
Washington leaders that American SEN
tment is heartily behind the objects OF
the conference. Various national or
ganizations are banding themselves to
encourage the President In his effort
At the same time. 80 far as Admins
tration leaders are able to learn, there
is a firm determination not to permit
the United States to be manGuvred into
false position. The United states is
willing to cut down its armament ap-
propriations but will not do so unless
an understanding can be reached which
win make the programme or limitation
general and which Will safeguard the
Interests of this country In the future.
! In other words, this administration Is
determined there shall be no auixotic
movement toward disarmament by the
United States on a solitary basis.
Neither will the United States enter
the conference with any feeling Of hope
lessness regarding the expenses that will
be involved in maintaining Its own pro-
portionate share of armaments. 1t Is
realized the American people are
anxious to be relieved from the strain,
but while it will prove burden here, 1t
may prove crushing one elsewhere.
with this attitude in mind leaders In
Government are warning against too
much optimism about the results to be
attained, feeling 1t Is better to receive
more than Is expected. rather than to
be disappointed.