Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-13
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BE FREDERICK NJ WYI.E

Nj. w
WASHINGTON, Oct. I3-Oren ses-
sions Of the conference On Limitation of
armament, as far as they are compatible
with progress, will be earnestly advo-
waited by the American delegation. That
high important decision was taken at the
. first meeting Of the American commits
misunderstanding Hughes, Enhu Root,
Senator Lodge and Senator Underwood
who were in session at the State Depart
ment continuously for three and half
hours Wednesday. The delegation was
moved TO adopt. in principle, the idea Of
open sessions by what was described,
after the meeting, as the unmtstakable
demand Of the American people for the
maximum amount Of conference pub
Hcity.
1t was made plain that It win not be
for the American delegates but for the
conference itself, finally to decide the
question. But 1t Is certain that if there
is any prospect Of obtaining open SEES
gions, no distractions will be forthcom-
ing from President Harding's represen-
tatives in the conference. There Is no
proposal that all conference sessions, or
even any considerable number of them,
shall be held in the open. What the
American delegation IS ready to support
is a policy of throwing open as many
sessions as can be held in public with
out retarding the real work Of the con-
ference
The session was the first occa sion on
which the American commissioners have
come together. Secretary Hughes hither-
20 has only conferred with Messrs. Root,
Lodge and Underwood individually. An
other Joint session is improbable before
next week, but che can be summoned on
short notice. Mr.. Root holding himself
in readiness TO he in Washington SIS soon
or as much as desired. The delegation
did not see President Harding. but Of
course viii maintain cessant contact with
him. The first formal action taken was to
elect Basil Miles, native of Philadelphia
ard graduate of the University Of Penn
sylvania, secretary Of the American dele
CATION Each delegate In addition will
have his own secretary. The conference
will elect its secretary general, who may
or may not be an American. In accord
with custom and tradition, Secretary
Hughes. as foreign minister" of the
power that summoned the conference, In
al <nrohahf1ity will be elected its pre-
siding officer.
DISCUSS CABLE
CONNECTIONS IN PACIFIC.
Barring the decision to favor feasible"
open sessions of the conference the Amer
lean delegation confined it's delibera tons
to routine matters. After getting &C
quainted with itself" as one participant
put It, the delegation inspected a vast
mass Of preliminary details submitted
by Secretary Hughes headed by the
sgenda submitted to the invited powers
IN Sentember 1t was revealed for the
first time that an important addition
recently was made to the original agenda
concerning electrical communications in
the Pacific" Under that subject all ques-
lions relating to cables and wireless be-
tween America and Asia are compre-
hended. inchudinP final regulation Of the
former German cables so long in dispute
Gmong the United States, Great Britain,
France. italy and Japan, Holland, a con-
ference participant in Far Eastern affairs,
has an ownership interest In one Of the
cables.
Secretary Hughes appraised the dele
CATION that the state Department has
established a special Far Eastern and
Pacific Section" which, IN conjunction
with the existing Far Eastern and Rus
sian divisions Of the department, has
worked up an immense amount OF con-
ference material This consists mainly
Of monographs on specific subjects ana
Is being added to from day to day. When
complete It will PROVIDE the American
delegation with a storehouse Of pertinent
information To that end the Carnegie
Washington through its director, DR..
James Brown Scott. will cooperate with
the delegation. Mr.. Root is chairman
Of the endowment.
Secretary Hughes made plain to his
fellow delegates that the agenda pro-
POSED by the United States, while it has
encountered no objections among the in
vited powers, is elastic. It Is subject to
ampIification by any power that brings
forward q subject considered suitable
conference material There is absolutely
no bar in that regard.
The material assembled by the War
and Navy Departments, also was laid be-
fore the American delegation. 1t Is ex-
haustive and highly informative, reveal
ing not only a graphic picture OF Amer
ica's present hour status among the
armies and navies of the world, but out
lining the pending plans and future pro-
Jects Of other powers as far as pub
hcly known. 1t Is expected the American
delegation, between now and conference
time, win consult periodically with
Army and Navy leaders with a view to
further elucidation Of technical phases Of
the armament problem.
Secretary Hughes fully acquainted the
delegation with the arrangements for the
conference at the Pan-American Union
building. where sessions will be held and
at the Navy Building, where two whole
wings have been set aside for offices of
all delegations, including that Of the
United states-Copynght, 1921, by
Public Ledger Company.