Evening star., 1921-08-12
invitations SENT
FOR conference
Formal Notes Dispatched to
P0Wers-China Invited
for Far East ParIey.

Formal invitations to Great Britain,
! France. Italy and japan to unite in
"a practical effort to remove the
| causes Of misunderstanding" and so
facilitate reduction of the worlds
| enormous outlay for materials of war
were sent by the State Department
yesterday.
In formal notes. identical in their
wording, the American government
| pledged its fullest Cooperation in
| such q movement and defined it's own
| conception of the principles involved,
| as follows:
That there can be no hope for peace
or stability until the tax burden re-
sulting from heavy armaments has
| been reduced;
| That such a reduction is possible
| only If troublesome international
problems are solved by common con-
sent;
That among these problems the Pa
| cific and far eastern questions occupy
| a position of 'unQuestioned i'm
4, portance";
That although there is no intention
to dictate the scope of the confer
| ence, the discussions should touch
international concern, as well as
those now admittedly controversial
| and
Ask Naval Discussion First.
That the question of naval arma-
ments might well be considered first
! though there would be no barrier to a
| full consideration of ornaments of
! every sort.
| China also was asked yesterday to
! send a delegation to take part in the
discussions at the conference which
relate to the Pacific and the far east.
All of the nations invited have in
formally indicated their Willingness
and desire to participate in the con-
| ference, to be held here November
| II, and in few days their formal ac-
ceptance, which will open the way
for more detailed arrangements for
the conference, are expected to reach
| Washington.
! In every respect the note of invita-
tion follows the principles previously
defined by this government in it's in
! formal conversations with the other
, powers, but particular attention was
attracted by the suggestion that a
| solution of the far eastern situation
should include common understand
ing with respect to matters which
| have been and are of international
concern" State Department officials
would not interpret the text Of the
|
was that under this definition a way
! would be found to discuss such ques-
| tions as zap and Shantung. which
have been Of international concern.
but which Japan now is inclined to
| regard as closed incidents.
!. From the start the American gov
| ernment has held that such subjects
+! ought not to be excluded from an
| honest effort to reach an adjustment
in the far east. Japan. on the other
! point of declaring in her informal
acceptance of place in the confer
| ence that she did not expect to dis
| cuss subjects or situation which
! could be regarded as accomplished d
| facts" Whether such a qualification
| will be repeated in the formal ac-
| ceptance of the Toxic government is
\ a subject of conjecture. but officials
here are confident of a satisfactory
agreement on that subjet before the
conference assemblies on November IL.
VIII Discuss Gas.
| Aside from the hint that naval
! ornaments would logically come first
ence, the formal invitatI Ion makes
/ only one suggestion as to the sub
ject matter of the disarmament dis
cussions themselves. That relates to
new agencies of warfare" control
of which the note holds to be ad-
! visable in the interest of humanity.
; Under this heading. it is expected.
! special attention will be given to use
/ of gas. dissemination Of disease
germs over enemy lines and similar
! The number Of principal delegates
I to be sent by each participating ma
tion is not suggested in the note. ,ad-
ministration officials having found it
impossible to secure consensus of
the opinion of the powers on that
1 cyrhi haf n nj
| was dispatched. Informal negotia-
tions regarding the size Of delega-
tions are proceeding. with indica-
| tions pointing to an agreement that
the conference. with the privilege
of substituting in any Of the five
places whatever personnel may be
desired from time to time to cope
with specific subjects. A similar ar
rangement obtained at the peace con-
| ference at Versailles.
| COnfers With Mr.. Harding.
| While the official invitations weres on
the cables President Harding turned his
attention to a survey Of sentiment in the
Senate, which has Joint responsibility
| with the executive in foreign relations.
He summoned to the White House Sem
ator Borah. republican, Idaho, author of
\ the resolution requesting the calling of
! a disarmament conference, and, in a
| conference Of more than an hour, went
over foreign problems generally as they
are likely to affect the attitude Of the
American representatives in the con-
ference.
! One subject understood to have re-
ceived special attention at the confer
ence was the proposal for free tolls foI
American coastwise ships at the Pana-
ma canal. Mr.. Harding is said to have
expressed no objection to the Idaho
senator's proposal to press his bill fol
such provision. but at the same time
opinion that diplomatic negotiations nov
proceeding on the subject should be car.
ried forward without interruption.
| The text of the official invitations tt
Great Britain; and China were made
public late. yesterday at the State De.
partment.
The note to China was worded in thu
same language as the others. except tina
the detailed discussion of the burdens
of armament was omitted and the fol.
lowing was substituted as the conclud'
ing paragraph:
Accordingly, in pursuance of the pro
posal which has been made and in thu
light of the gracious indication of it,
acceptance, the President invites tn,
government of the republic of China t.
participate in the discussion of Pacific
and far eastern questions in connection
with the conference on the subject o.
limitation of armament, to be held II
Washington on the 18th day Of Novem'
ber, 1921"