Evening star., 1921-09-26
PORTUGAL SEEKING
TO PARTICIPATE IN
ARMS CONFERENCE
U. S. Willing to Accord Nation
Equal Rights With HoI-
land and Belgium.
INTERESTS IN FAR EAST
RECOGNIZED BY AMERICA
Formal Invitation Not to Be Sent
Until Other Nations Send
In Their Consent.

|
! Portugafs request for representa-
tion in the armament and far-eastern
conference when questions relating to
the far east and Pacific are consid-
the Portuguese minister, today at the
State Department. 1t was indicated
| that the United States would be will
ing to accord to Portugal the same
! rights as those suggested in the cases
of Holland and Belgium
| Formal replies had not been re-
| ceived from all the invited powers to
| the inquiry made by the United States
concerning the participation by Bel
sium and Holland. 1t is understood
here. however. that Great Britain and
Italy will max, no objection. and
| their willingness to accord Holland
and Belgium the privileges Of partici-
patton on questions in which they are
concerned.
Interests Are Recognized.
PortugaIs interests in the far east
are recognized by the American State
Department as emitting her to similar
| consideration, il IS understood, but it
is not believed that formal invitation
will be sent to the government at
Lisbon until the same procedure has
been taken as in the case Of Holland
and Belgium to ascertain the willing
ness of the other members of the con-
! ference to Portuguese participation.
Conversations among the repre-
sentatiVes of the nations to be parties
to the conference on the limitation
! of armament and determination of
! far eastern questions are proceeding
satisfactorily and tending toward
gradual clearing of the ground
| preliminary to the assembling of the
conference.
No Big Obstacles.
There is high official authority for
the statement that no insuperable
obstacles have yet been disclosed as
existent in the exchanges of views
| as to what may be taken up by the
conference and what by tacit pre-
understanding shall be omitted from
consideration ------r'.'s - -
President Harding and Secretary
.. Of State Hughes. together with the
high officials Of the administration in
touch with the progress of affairs.
are believed to find the scope of their
hopes as to what may be accom-
! plished by the conference expanding.
Proceeding cautiously, these officials
gauge their expectations by the un-
folding from day to day of the PROS
poets of material results forecast by
the nature of the understandings ar
rived at in the conversations.
AS the conference is expected to
consider concurrently the subjects of
limitation of ornaments and the far
eastern question. the exchanges of
views and the conversations upon the
latter subject are at this time en-
gaging the attention of the State De-
partment to at least as great a degree
as the one which the public appears to
hold foremost in mind, the limitation
of armaments.
Concerned Over Diplomacy.
One might hazard the guess, and
probably be not wide of the mark
that some of the foreign nations are
more concerned over the diplomatic
problems than the armament reduc-
,, tion questions involved in the ultimate
action of the conference. There ap-
pears to be general acquiescence by
the other nations in the position as
sumed by President Harding as to the
relativity and Importance of the. dip
lomatic phases to the economic aims
in view.
In his invitation to Great Britain,
France. Italy and Japan to enter the
conference, the President said:
1T is. however, quite clear that
there can be no final assurance of the
peace Of the world in the absence of
the desife for peace, and the prospect
for reduced armaments is not a hope
full one unless this desire finds ex-
preston in practical effort to remove
causes Of misunderstanding and to
seek ground for agreement as to prin-
ciples and their application.
Hope to Find Solution.
ut is the earnest wish of. this gov
ernment that through an interchange
by conference it may be possible to
find solution of Pacific and far east
ern problems of unQuestioned impor-
tance at this time; that is, such COM
mon understandings with respect to
matters which have been and are of
international concern as may serve
to promote enduring friendship among
our peoples"
The same sentiment was expressed
in the invitation sent to China, and
China echoed and accentuated the
suggestion. THE center of gravity in
matters International has recently
shifted to the Pacific and far east"
said China, in accepting the invita-
tion to attend. "The Pacific and far
eastern questions. as viewed by the
Chinese people, are questions affect
ing the peace of the world ofthe pres
ent day"
Back President's View.
The disposition manifested at first in
some quarters in this country to
maintain that armament Limitation
should be the sole concern of the con-
ference has now disappeared, or is
evidenced in manner to be described
| as negligible in possible effect. The
| twofold and interdependent purposes
i of the conference are now admitted
and beyond further cavfl.