Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-19
HARDING HAD No
IDEA Of LEAGUE IN
CALLING Of FARLEY
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
Hcascd Wire Service 70 The Journal.)
(Convrinht 1901


viting the principal allied and asso-
Far Eastern conference in Wash
ington next November, President
Harding has not undertaken to set up
a rival to the League Of Nations, as
some European statesmen have sus-
pected.
1t is true nevertheless that the
plan for the Washington parley en-
braces virtually all that the presidents
has in mind at the present time
looking to an association of the
United States with the nations Of the
world.
Mr.. Harding never has thought of
organizing competitor Of the
League of Nations. AS previously
set forth in these dispatches, his idea
has been for an association with the
nations Of the world instead Of an
association of nations. An associa-
ton of nations which would have to
| be organized under some sort Of
covenant, which might in the end be
open to the same objections as the
covenant of Versailles. To place the
United States in association with
the other nations for specific pur-
Iposes from time to time as occasion
arises for that association is Mr..
Harding's theory Of the proper in
ternationa1 role for the United States.
It Is no part of the presidents am
bition to overthrow the existing
League of Nations. 1t was neither
his heart nor his mind to aim a
blow at the league when he sent out
the first "feelers" for the disarma-
ment conference. 1t is the pres1-
dents view that the United States
has no interest in the league. If the
lother nations of the world find COM
fort and convenience in it, the Unit
ed States would not deprive them
of one whit of solace or fancied Sc
curity.
Harding's idea
President Harding's idea Of the
way to get thing done is to call to-
gether the persons capable of doing
it and setting them to their task.
He believes thta if the great powers
Invited to the Washington conference
can agree on terms of disarmament
the rest Of the world will quickly
fall into line. If these principal pow
ers cannot agree upon satisfactory
terms then the presence of all the
other nations of the world at the
conference could not change the re-
suit
The call for the conference on
disarmament was not the outgrowth
of a sudden impulse by Mr.. Harding,
lnor was it superinduced by the Borah
amendment to the naval bill e
questing a conference with Great
Britain and Japan.
President Harding las held in mind
ever since the election the plan he
has now placed in operatios. He
was rather annoyed that the matter
should have come into controversy
in the senate and it was because OF
his own plans on the subject that
he at first suggested TO senators that
they might we'll leave the matter in
the hands of the executive. The
plans the president was working out
called for a conference of wider
scope than the one contemplated by
Senator Borah.
President Harding specifically out
lined his own plans in his inaugural
address a little more than four
months. ago. washington 1t must
be admitted, has been slow in appre-
ciating the true significance of what
the chief executive. then said. 1t
was then that he made clear his idea
of associating the United States with
the other nations rather than 60
ing into an association of nations as
a fixed and continuing organization.
And the first fixed purpose of getting
together with the other nations was
to bring about disarmament. The
presidents inaugural words make
int eresting reading now in the light
Of subsequent events. The presi-
dent has just turned his back for
the third and last time upon the
League of Nations and then he said:
People Will Understand
ct am sure our own people will not
misunderstood nor will the world
misconstrue We have no thought to
impede the paths to closer relation
ship. We want to do our part in
making offensive warfare so hateful
that governments and peoples who
resort to it must prove the right
eousness of their cause or stand aa
outlaws before the bar of civilization.
1--WE are ready to associate our
selves with the nations Of the world,
great and small, for conference, for
counsel. to seek the expressed views
of world opinion; to recommend a
way to approximate disarmament
and relieve the crushing burdens of
military and naval establishments.
GIN expressing aspirations, in
seeking practical plans, in translat-
ing humanity's new concept of right
eousness and justice and its hatred
Of war into recommended action we
are ready most heartily to unite,
but every commitment must be made
in the exercise of our national SOW
ereignty."
President Harding has wanted the
world to understand that the Unit
ed States is ready and willing to take
up it's share of the legitimate burdens
of civilization and is willing to con-
suit with the other nations at any
time a consultation is deemed nee
essary. He has wanted the world to
know that the United States does not
stand aloof and is not selfish. In
fact, he believes the unselfshness of
the United States is a thing proved.
NO Idea of League
The president has emphasized time
and time again that the United
States would be willing to associate
with the other nations for counsel.
despite these many statements there
still exists the notion that he has
had in mind the creation of an asso-
citation of nations in opposition to the
League of Nations, using the term
association merely as a synonym for
league. Europe during the past week
has been trying to figure out If the
disarmament conference was to be
the beginning of this rival organi-
cation and some of the stauncher
supporters of the league have look
ed somewhat askance at the PROPOSE
ton.
The disarmament conference is
just what it purports to be, and
nothing else.
1t may result in a new world un-
. Outstanding, it is true, but it will
; be an understanding that the Unit
, ed States fully realizes her para
mount position in the world and has
| demonstrated her willingness to as
sociate with the other nations for the
advancement of the aspirations of