The New York herald., 1921-07-17
FIX BLAME FOR COST
OF WAR READINESS
Harding's Conference Plans
Shaped to Settle Response
bility for Huge Waste.
TO ELIMINATE CAUSES
Japan Must Come Out in Open
on Course in China, Siberia
and Pacific Ocean.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., July l6.

Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., July l6.
President Harding's international
conference to discuss disarmament and
the Far Eastern question is now as
sured, despite any attitude of hesitancy
which Japan may show.
The foreign policy evolved by Presi-
dent Harding and Secretary of State
Hughes and inaugurated the moment
Mr. Hughes assumed the State port
folio, has now become an open book.
In calling the international confer
ence the Administration has laid its
cards on the table.
This fact has dawned on the Senate,
which has been restive under the
hitherto seeming lack of direction in
the first stages of this policy and even
those who question the wisdom of the
methods adopted are compelled to as
sumo an attitude Of silent approval
because of the tremendous issues in
volved
1t Is now assured that the conference
will be held IN Washington and that II
will consider all the questions suggested
In the Presidents invitation.
Japan Must Justify Course.
II is now accepted that no matter how
unwilling Japan may be to discuss the
| Far East problem with China sitting at
the council table, 1t will be necessary
for her to do so in order TO justify the
course she has taken both in China and
| in Siberia, and it Is in this situation that
the success of the Harding and Hughes
foreign policy rests.
Disarmament may not come out of the
conference, and II may not be possible
to arrive at agreement upon Far East
ern problems. but whatever agreements
or disagreements result from the con-
ference this much Is assured-the prob
lens confronting the various nations
will have been paraded before world
opinion.
No amount OF subtle propaganda
directed here and there. 1t is now as
sumed. will be able TO disguise the
values in a situation which is frankly
acknowledged TO be fraught with danger
of war.
II comparative disarmament does not
result from the conference the world
will know the reason why IL is neces-
sary to spend huge sums to maintain
them and the responsibility for this
maintenance will be firmly and clearly
fixed. 1t is this outstanding reason
which leads to the conviction that
neither Japan nor any other country
invited can afford to remain outside the
1.-leg "a
tude of world wondering why II Is
necessary to make It's greatest appro-
priations for destructive materials.
This is the object which the Harding
Administration has had in mind from
the outset--the goal toward which its
face has been set and which it hopes
may be accomplished by means OF the
conference.
1t is realized that many difficult
hurdles must be negotiated before the
goal is attained. While they are ad-
mittedly difficult they are not regard ed
as insuperable.
steps In New Foreign Policy.
The time has arrived when il is pos
! sible to review the steps by which the
Harding Administration in the develop
ment OF its foreign policy under direction
of Secretary Hughes has reached this
point.
When President Harding entered the
| White House and Mr.. Hughes became
Secretary of State the foreign relations
OF the United States were In chaos.
President Wilson had negotiated treaty
with the allied Powers which was plainly
unsatisfactory TO the American people.
In addition to the Objectionable feature
| OF the super-governmental character OF
the league, which was suspected Of being
controlled BY the European and Asiatlc
Powers. the United States representa-
/ tives at Versailles had lost sight OF the
tremendous interest which the American
people have in the orient
Aside from the questions of right and
| Justice involved in the attitude OF Japan
toward China and Eastern Siberia there
was the material problem Of fair par
ticipation In the development Of the
Orient. John Hay had recognized this In
his declaration Of the "open door" and 1t
had been reiterated in the Root-Takahira
agreement
II was left for the Wilson Admins
| tration to negotiate the LansinR-Tshil
agreement which appeared to abandon
| this policy, gesture which was more
pronounced at the Versailles conference
when President Wilson surrendered 10
the allied Powers and permitted them 10
put in effect their secret agreements
with japan surrendering Shantung IA
that country.
II was this situation which MIR Hughes
had In mind when he addressed his first
identic note to the Powers claiming for
Continued on Second Page.
| HOTEL, AsToR-Roof Garden and Roof Res.