The Washington herald., 1921-11-01
Americans Given Rank
Of Ambassadors i'm
Z Conference.
WILLIS EXPECTS
SAVING IN COSTS
Senator Swanson Urges
Freedom of Seas to
ALI Nations.

American delegates to the con-
ference on Limitation of armamsnts
met again yesterday with represent
atives Of the Navy DEPARTMENT to
perfect the plans for reduction of
naval ornaments which will be sub
mitted for consideration of the
powers when the conference reaches
this important subject, first on tn,
agenda for consideration.
Before they entered yesterdays
discussion the American delegates
received their signed commissions
from the President designating them
as Ambassadors Of the United states
with plenipotentiary powers. This
will give them rank with the dele
gates OF the visiting powers and
full authority to act for the Presi-
dent in the conference.
Meeting with the delegation yes
terday were Secretary of the Navy
DENLY. Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt, Rear Admiral Coontz, chief of
naval operations, and Capt. Pratt.
Secretary Hughes. chairman of the
delegation. announced that progress
was being made on the plans of the
delegation for naval reduction bu:
that nothing could be said about that
at this time. The delegation will
meet again this afternoon and again
tomorrow morning.
Chief Aim to Rednce Costs.
With delegates and advisers ar
riving daily and discussion OF the
conference being INDUCED in al the
Capitol and in voluntary advisory
organizations, the subject is al
ready uppermost in Washington. In
an address last night before an ad-
visory convoeatioa on limitation OF
Senator Willis. of Ohio,
declared that total disarmament by
civilized nations is at the present
moment as impossible as IL would
be dangerous"
The forthcoming conference will
not undertake the realization of
such a far-off dream" said Senator
Willis. "But il will succeed. in re-
ducing by uncounted billions of dol
lars the annual expenditure for
armies and navies and in so doing
1t will have taken a long step in
the direction of world peace.
The conference will accomplish
ka aIl l.
nor will armies all be disbanded.
the civilized nations that control
bring expenditures for armaments
to a tithe of whar theyare nowt"
Fears World Bankruptcy.
Universal bankruptcy confronts
the world If the armament confer
ence fails, Senator Swanson, of Vir-
ginia, a Democratic member of the
Foreign Relations Committee. de-
clared in carefully prepared
speech in the Senate.
Governmental expenditures" said
Senator Swanson. unless greatly
reduced. will certainly lead to fur
ther industrial depression and dis
tress and finally eliminate in uni
versal bankruptcy. Annual gov
ernmental expenditures have at
tained such an immense proportion
to the yearly earnings of the people
as seriously to interfere with the
processes of production and to
threaten the solvency of our vari-
Gus indispensable enterprise.
Senator Swanson suggested agree
ments which the conference should
try to reach.
Urges Freedom of Seas.
I'VE should recognize" said the
Senator. the dependence of Eng
land upon access to the sea, alike
in times of peace and of war, for
the sustenance of her people and
the continuance of her industries
but we should insist that though
England's existence depends on heI
access to the seas, IL gives her no
right to a naval supremacy that
places the commerce of the world
under her control and direction
The freedom of the seas would
also give protection to the island
empire OF Japan"
Regarding Far Eastern ques-
tions, Senator Swanson said that
China was the key to settlement
and that it would not be difficult
If the nations would adhere to their
pledges under the treaty of ver-