Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-13
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1s. 1921.
Harding Welcomes the Conference

d RESIDENT HARDING rose to really
great heights yesterday in the address
with which lie welcomed the delegates to
the conference on the Limitation of arma-
/ ments to Washington, and as spokesman for
America he unerringly interpreted this ma
TONS heart and soul. The United States
welcomes you with unselAsh hands," he
said We harbor no fears; have no
sordd ends 10 serve; we suspect no enemy;
We contemplate or apprehend no conquest.
Content with what we have, we seek moth
ing which is another's. We only wish 10
do with you that finer, nobler thing which
mo nation can do alone" In those few Sim
pie phrases he cpitomized that unselfsh de-
votion and that love OF peace, yet withal,
that fearlessness, which have characterized
this nation since the first day OF its indie
pendence
The Presidents address was carefully
: worded. yet it was not lacking in that in
SEPARATION which had it's source in the rea-
lization that he was sending forth the heart
appeal of this leader among the nations TO
lay aside the sordid self-seekng and sus-
p1cion that have kept peoples at war since
the beginning OF time, and TO deal frankly
honestly and fairly with one another. No
one knew better than the President the inn
portance OF his ntterances, or scnsed more
keenly that the conference OF great powers
assembled at his call must be convinced of
America sincerity, its unselnshness and
its good faith and. perhaps more than all
else, of its newly born realization that it
Is no longer isolated, but is willing to work
hand in hand with other nations along the
way that leads 10 peace, if this gathering
is to have the. results for which The world
Is praying. AS his address is Il courageous
translation In IF all
feels and hopes, so it must have carried
conviction to all those representatives OF
other powers who listened to it, particularly
since Americas whole historical background
bears out his Interpretation OF this peoplo's
aspirations. II the conference is convinced
of our sincerity, then the President already
has carried it long distance toward the
achievement of that end for which II was
called together
AS the civilized world. weary and strug-
Cling for restoration, and crying for bett or
relations ships and assurance of, las,ing
peace" hears this frank expression of
Americas unsclNsh devotion to its peac.
ideal and its eagerness to take i'm union
with other nations, those practical stems
WITHOUT which II cannot nateria!ize. it will
put on Inc fresh garments of hope that at
i"st Tue reigi! or war Is about to pass The
va" spes"' as ne makes IL clear,
ohiy foT the United States but "our hum
dred millions frankly want less OF armament
ana none OF war. Wholly free from guile,
sure IN our own minds that we harbor no
unworthy designs, we accrcdi the world
win the same good intent" If the world
us IL Is represented by 's delegates i'm Wash
!hgtoh, VIII meet America in the same frank
ness OF spirit, the same willingness 10 sub
merge selfish interests il cooperation 10
that end, then, indeed. there may be writ
ten mere The ayowals OF & world conscience
reihed by the consuming fires OF war" and
there Will be forthcoming those guarantees
OF peace, and for commitments 10 less bur.
dehs ana better order whicl will tranquil
lie the world"
Ihus America has spoken the answer vii,
be written in letters Of living light or il will
Dc written in letters Of blood and tears