Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-10-19
ARMS DELEGATES
OPEN POWWOWS
U. S. ENJOYS Hold Conference TO
Map Out Program.
PRESIDENT GIVES HIS VIEWS
Harding in a Letter to Brooklyn
Woman Says Absolute 0isarma-
ment Is Impossible and Prob.
ably Not Desirable.

Washington, Oct. ia month OF
careful preparation for the American
governments part in the armament
conference began with the first meet
ing here Of the four delegates selected
by President Harding 10 speak for
the United States.
Diplomatic, military and naval data
OF a specific nature already had been
compiled for the guidance of the dele
CATIONS. but the real task of fitting the
whole mass of information together
and building upon it "A constructive
program remained to be done by the
delegates themselves In the long series
of meetings that will precede the open
ing OF the conference on November III.
Hughes Calls Meeting.
The first meeting was designed TO
do no more than scratch the surface
Of the problem ahead of the American
Representatives. 1t was called by Sec
rotary Hughes. head of the delegation,
To permit of a preliminary survey OF
the situation and of general outline
of the things to be done.
President Harding had communicate
ed his ideas through Mr.. Hughes, and
memoranda were available covering
various points of technical informa-
ton. hut personal interviews with the
President and with military and naval
experts were part of the delegations
plan during its period of preparation.
Some hint of the Presidents hopes
for the armament conference were
given as the delegates were assem-
bling, by publication of a letter the
President had written in reply To a
prayer that be work for universal
disarmament
Absolute disarmament, Mr.. Harding
wrote, was beyond hope of realiZa-
tion." and perhaps not very desirable,
but "a reasonable limitation" of arma-
ment was practical proposition, with
some hope of accomplishment.
Harding's Letter.
The letter was addressed to Miss
Ella L. Freed, Brooklyn, \. Y, and
was as follows:
"AIy dear Miss Freed:
"Your letters. among others that
come to me, suggest a widespread mis-
apprehension rs to the aims of the con-
ference on limitation of ornaments.
In my letter of October >, l said TO
you:
- think I ought to correct your
impression about the expectation of
universal disarmament. IL is very
erroneous TO suggest that we contem-
plate going as far as that. If we can
get reasonable limitation we shall
think that great things have been ac-
complished.'
"You replied that my letter seemed
TO bring a message Of hopelessness to
those seeking universal disarmament,
and asked me TO explain reasonable
limitation.
by reasonable Limitation, I mean
something practicable that there is
chance to accomplish, rather than an
ideal that there would be no chance To
realize. II is necessary to deal with
actualities: To do the best possible.
Universal disarmament would be be-
yond hope Of realization; even its de-
STABILITY nj this time might well be
questioned.
Thousands Of years OF history re-
cording the wars and controversies OF
mankind. suggest that human nature
would require revolutionary reorgsn-
ization 10 make universal disarmament
possible. A consideration of the pres
ent state Of the world must, l think.
enforce the conclusion that this is not
a hopeful time To undertake that kind
of revolution.
Nations Encourage Idea.
ION the other hand, a world with
the horrors of recent experiences
scared into its mind. and staggering
under the load of debt and arma-
ments. has generously justified our
hope for a favorable attitude toward
the practical effort. the sincere begin
ming. that we are attempting.
THE fine spirit i'm which leading ma
lions have received the invitation TO
meet and consider these things. Is a.
together encouraging. To undertake
the impossible and fail, might leave
our last state worse than our first.
The attitude Of the nations warrants
confidence that we will not fail, but
rather that substantial results win be
accomplished. calculated TO lessen the
armament burden. and TO reduce the
danger Of armed conflict l feel that
In such an effort we are entitled to
the support OF all the people who
would be glad-as | can assure you
would-to see still more accomplished
II possible.
Most sincerely yours.
"WARREN G. HARDING"