The New York herald., 1921-11-29
Exact Meaning Of Harding's
Association of Nations
Is Discussed.
FRESH CONFERENCE AIM
Wickham Steed Gives Wash
ingt6n's Interpretation Of
Presidents Phrase.
By wICKHAM sTEED.
Editor of the London Times.


tcopyrtght, 1921, 5y United Neacs.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Belief is
growing that the principal feature of
the plan for the limitation Of naval ar
maments will be adopted very soon.
Japanese acceptance of the 5-5-3
ratio OF capital ship strength is re-
garded as imminent. The matter has
been entrusted to Mr.. Hughes and to
Admiral Baron Kato for settlement.
II these two statesmen agree an Off
cial announcement is likely either to
be made at once or at the next plenary
sitting of the conference
There is also reason to think the
diminishing which has gone on in con-
ncction with the ratio of naval strength
claimed by France does not represent
the settled views of the French del
egation. 1t will probably be found the
French attitude on the naval question
VIII be not only reasonable but calcu-
lated to facilitate q general agreement
notwithstanding the Importance of
thesc specific issues public attention
here turns principally toward the hints
OF President Harding's intentions which
We're given at the White House on Fri
day. The President evidently desires
cooperation between the chief nations Of
the world, including Germany with the
object OF reducing land armaments and
OF safeguarding the peace Of Europe
While the limitation of naval armaments
safeguards peace in the Pacific. In some
quarters the idea ascribed to him is
called an Association of nations,
though nothing has hitherto transpired
70 justify nomenclature SO positive.
nevertheless. the earnestness of his In
tention is unquestionable.
Old League; New Name.
Senator Borah and tile section of the
American press that ragged most furi-
ously against American participation in
the League Of Nations have opened a.
vociferous campaign against what they
describe as the league under n new
name. Since il is as improbable the
President has not foreseen and dis
counted this campaign as that he will
play into the hands OF its leaders less
Importance attached TO 1t than to the
eincidation OF his immediate policy.
Undoubtedly the United States Execu-
tive aims at securing the peace of the
world on the hroadest possible basis. On
the assumption that the Washington con-
ference will establish conditions that
promise peace In tho Pacific and in the
Far East. there remain the precarious
position In Europe proper and the uncer-
tainty of the situation in Russia II il
admitted on all hands that the Russian
question is fnsoluble for the present. but
ne european question. which. in the
light or declarations made here can be
stated in terms OF providing adequate Sc
Surity for France against an eventual
German menace, is believed to be sus-
cepdble OF solution by international co.
operation under American leadership.
The fundamental idea is that Germany
hsrsek should join in giving France ade-
Nuatc guarantees. One significant impli-
cation Of this idea may or may not be
fully appreciated at the White House. II
rs that nations which should join in un-
derwriting assurances of peaceful inten-
lions would thereby engage themselves
to support France in the event Of the
qualification OF those assurances. Since
the definite contraction of such an en-
gsgement by the United States Is beyond
the scope OF practical American politics
the underwriting would have to be done
chiefly by Great Britain and Belgium.
War Debts Involved.
A further implication Is that a guar
antee OF the kind suggested presupposes
~ utIlfiilC ScAticiIlcHL Oh tne TcDAIatiOnS
question, which in its turn involves con-
sideration of war debts and of the rates
Of exchange. Were IL intended to de-
bate and 70 settle all these matters dur
ing the Washington conference its dura-
tion would be impossible 30 predict, and
The composition OF the delegations at
tending il might need 10 be radically
modified. 4
1t seems, therefore, reasonable TO sup.
pose that President Harding looks for
ward rather TO the convocation OF fresh
conferences on these matters than to
the indefinite extension OF the present
conference. From practical standpoint
lt would be far better to create a prece-
dent for the success of International
gatherings OF limited scope than 70 run
the risk of dwarfing the results now
attainable in Washington by aiming at a
vaster programme.
am therefore disposed to believe
that when the Presidents views are
more definitely expounded II Will be
found he has in mind a series OF gath
crings for precise objects. Such gather
ings may, indeed, become a peripatetic
association OF the principal nations that
will neither resemble the existing
League of Nations nor invade the iegit-
innate functions of the league. The ten
dency of American thought is rather
toward the association of the United
states with other nations for the treat
ment of immediate and definite problems
than toward the creation OF any hard
and fast atiopol or0anizo tion