Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1921-07-28
Harding's Plan for Armament
Reduction Conference Is
Well Received.
INVITED NATIONS ACCEPT
Pacific and Far East Problems Also
viii Be Discussed-lrish Peace
Meetings Begin - President
Asks Senate to Defer Sol.
dier Bonus Bill.
BY EC WARD w. PlcKARD.

"HnO W. VVSNHVSs
The United States last week resumed
It's leadership Of international affairs,
and President Harding's world policy
unfolded in way that leads his warm
supporters to believe his plans for an
association Of nations to preserve the
peace Of the world are on the eve Of
fultilment This comes about through
the Presidents invitation to Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan to
send representatives to diSarma.
ment reduction conference in Wash
ingtOn, and his suggestion that the
meeting, If held, also undertake set.
tlement of the Pacific and Far Eastern
problems, China being asked to par
ticipate in that part Of the confer
ence.
OF course, the invitation was infor.
NAL In nature, but the nations named
have received 1t with acclaim, and all
have signitied their willingness to ac-
cept the formal invitation when 1t is
issued, so it may be considered Ger.
tain that the conference will be
held, probably in the coming autumn
or possibly early next year. All the
world is evincing intense interest in
the plan, and certain of the lesser pow.
ers are eager to take part in the great
conference. That the discussion will
not be limited to the subjects men
toned Is almost beyond doubt, and
there is reason to believe that the as
sOciatiOn of nations with which Pres
ident Harding hopes to supplant the
League of Nations will be born al
the Washington conference.
Not only did the President fOresta
the action Of congress, which was
passing finally on the naval biz con
tanning the Borah amendment askin.
the President to negotiate naval hOl
iday with Great Britain and Japan
he also went further than BOrah ant
his followers desired and broatle.2,
the proposition to include land arm
uments. 1t was feared by many tha
Italy, and especially France, rw0ul'
refuse to reduce their milirar!
strength. France feels that she mus
be guaranteed against another Sttacl
by Germany, and ltaly's mail
strength is her army. Borah AM
others thought the inclusion Of lan'
armaments might defeat the who'll
plan, but the administration think
their fears are groundless and that III
agreement for naval reduction may b
reached If the question of reducin
armies Is found embarrassing. lndeet
the governments of France and Ital
were as prompt as that of Great Britai
10 accept Mr.. Harding's invitation
China's approval of the plan cam
next, and Japan. after carefully cor
sidering the Far Eastern phase of tn
matter, instructed its embassy q
Washington to accept, so far a
armament reduction Is concerned.
Before President Harding issued tn
Informal invitations, the leading state.
men OF Great Britain were consultc
BY Ambassador Harvey and also b
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler, who wa
reported to be unofiicially assistin
Mr.. Harvey In the matter. 1t Is sal
they informed Washington Of tn
psychological moment for taking az
ton Then Doctor Butler went
Parts and talked with French leader
and told correspondents thai Pres
dent Millerand was highly enthusiast
over the American plan. "French an
British statesmen agree with me tn;
President Harding's proposal marks
turning point in the history Of IL
world" said Doctor Butler.
Premier Lloyd Georges announc
ment Of the project to the house {
commons and of the governments al
proval of 1t was greeted with pr
longed cheering. A few days late
there was talk in London of separa1
conference there on Pacific matter
before the Washington meeting, b
cause the premiers Of Australia ar
New Zealand said 1t would be impo
sible for them to 60 home and retul
to America almost Immediately. Wht
{ this suggestion reached WashingtC
the administration let 1t be known th'
efforts to divert any part of the pr
posed conference from the Americs
capital would not be acceptable.