Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-14
HARDING MAY CALL
WORLD CONFERENCE
FOR DISARMAMENT
President-Elect Expected 10 Be
gin Movement With Britain
and Japan.
CONGRESS WOULD
FAVOR SUCH MOVE
b. Associated Prsss 70 livery Ey,a.rS

b. Aseociated Press % Eyery EsrnirE
Washington Jan ~ II - infifnatod D.
BY friends 81 senator Harding here. that
his first mOve IN the direction - new b.
ternational relations. after ConVesa has
declared by Joint resolution that var EIfr
Germany Il AZ an end, viii BE- The disDafch
II a note % the powers asking them %
join in United States general o0rferenes,
the purpose of which vii - he rslurtiou
Of arnnauents.
u is said the Presid-r'-elect has ns-
come profoundly impressed With ~,
portunity nov existing ~ bring - yrtat
governments Of The earth into ar seoorf
upon this subject With virtuaily all na-
tions staggering under beavy ns-io-ei
,lebts and buTdensOnne fsH1flon ard With
the world weary of war, Mr Harding :
believed N feel that now n he seceyfrd
time 20 press for q grsduhl but ef-rtrrs
reduction IN the var-tnaking nschin~s -
the world
u a added, however that th- Press
dent-elect has ar yw- no clear ifea ~
the methods he viii employ - ar0rlsr ~
terest ~ the associatsd powers n be
proposal He may c0rnrnIinicate drert
with them or he may publicly propr.e
an international oOnferrnce, A. the ssrn-
time asking other governments - per
ticipate.
one s51gyrstior board i- thz. Mr. HsrA
ing's initial move might - fhe dispe'eh
of notes % Japan and % Great bri'sin
crnbodyinz an invitation 20 1elperefe
with the United states over possi be d.
armament measures, with nsrticlilsr -
erence % naval programs u this step
should resalt fsvorably, then Other povers
would be req1es.ed - % INFO ne rNnle
question % disarmament
IN this connection, Il ala Nr
Harding NAV remind Great 3 Brtain that
disarmament affords means ~ ceonnny
which may make % far easier ior ne
debtor nations n repav what hey owe
The question of European lcdehtenns-ss'
10 America il one - which VI. Harfing
4 said TO hsve gwen unucn tn0ughi
and about which he fleets q large me2aIre
of concern.
Afr. Harding sad rrpeatscly during
the campaign that league ~ uatlors nr
no league of nations, tie hoped Tor future
disarmament, although - requenfly da-
claring that until thH nope could ~
realized. u wEs the plan dufF q fnr
United STATES % MAINTAIN an ldeqlaf
navy % an Instrument u defense % rer
foreign shipping and her nternatlnra.
r.sass-
He also frequently DECLARED tnat fiifih
I. busIncss-lize uuderstandlg must %
9 reached with the debtor nations - f1
/ the pepaynent q the money hey n1r-
rowed from the United States % the nr1er-
cution Of the war.
Already there IS q prouounce1 aenil-
rnent in Congressional circles tor sune
+ definite and effective move toward dis-
armament. Every time Al appropriair
I committee OF the House and senate sIts
( down 20 work OUT an economy scheme,
/ il finds itself confronted with tne enor-
I nous demand for moley for the army
/ for the navy and for other pureiv Esr
! enterprises. There can be 90 decisive ~
/ duction IN appropriations, 70 has been
/ found, 80 long As a strong army and
/ powerful navy must be maintained
Although the senate hAs, thus Ar.
/ shown no pronounced eazerness % adopt
! the Borah resolution looking 20 naEAa
[ holiday. much oi the dlsGlcilnatlon %
/ pass this measure = due to an 1nEliAne-
/ ness of Republican leaders 20 compiicate
/ disarmament matters on The eve 90 q
new administration. Most senator's, n
. IS believed. would be glad 70 - alonS win
Mr.. Harllng, however, e be should uiaAe
/ a move IN the direction of reduced anna
LleltS.