New Britain herald., 1921-07-11
Consideration of Prob lens of Pacific and Far East Would Also
 Be Included, Presi-
 dent Says Informally.
France Understood to Favor Plan and British Cabinet Reported As Giving Mat ter Consideration.

Washington, July 1.-The course of the United States was definitely settled today toward two goals of international mportance-limitatio of armament and solution of problems involving the Pacific and the Far East.
 President Harding, it was revealed, in a state department announcement published today, has approached with informal but definite inquiries the gov ernments of Great Britain, France Italy and Japan to ascertain whether it would be agreeable to those nations to participate in a conference to be held m Washington at an agreed date for discussion of armament limitation.
 He has furthermore suggested to the nations interested in the problems of the Pacific and Far East that there be undertaken in connection with the con- ference 'the consideration of all mat ters bearing upon their solution with a VleW to reaching common under standing with respect to principles and policies in the Far East''
 The state department announcement said that if the proposal for limitation of armament conference were found ac- ceptable formal invitations for the con- ference would be issued. Whether any
 responses to the inquiries directed to the allied and associated powers have been received by the president was not indicated in the departme an- nouncement.
 For that reason great popular inter est was attached, to the statement by Lloyd George, the British premier promised for today and which London advices indicated would touch upon the
 matters initiated by Mir. Harding. France Modified.
 Paris. July II (By Associated
 Press)--Sheldon Whitehouse, coun- selior of the American embassy, called at the French foreign office just be- | fore noon today and talked with M. ] De Peretti de la Rocca, director of political affairs, on the possibility of
 holding a conference on disarmament. MT. Whltehousa delivered no docu- l ment in this connection. merely en- gazing in tentative conversation on the subject.
 Official comment on Presid ent
 Harding's initiative for a conference on the limitation of arnamenta is l withheld pending receipt of the official invitation but unofficial opinions l gathered in official circles are to the effect that France certainly will &C.,
 cept the invitation.
 | The attitude of the French govern l ment, however, is said to be un-
 changed since it was set forth in the
 assembly of the league of nations last
 December by Leon Bourgeois. France. it is explained, is ready and will be l glad to reduce her armaments and
 save the heavy expenses involved as soon as she can safely do so, but any | decision on this question must depend | on absolute security from the east. Question of Security.
 Inquiries in official circles disclosed the impression that such security has
 not been obtained. The Upper Siles- l ian troubles and the nationalist rec reation in certain parts of Germany
 are cited a,s indications that the time
 has not come. when France can safely
 weaken herself in the face of Ger
 many. French opinion is particu- lar1y exercised over the continued agi- tation by the German manifestants
 who remained in Upper Silesia after
 the evacuation by the German forces under Gen. van Hoefer.
 , In this connection it is declared , that since the assassination of Major Monta1iercs at Beuthen two French
 officers there have been besieged since by men and crowds, being saved only by the intervention of police, while , French official dispatches declare tha i of the 40 900 troops who were under S Gen. von Hoefer in Upper Silesia onl! r 2O,OeO were withdrawn. Of the 2O.OO' :. said to be remaining half are non e residents of Upper Silesia, and thes
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