Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-01
Chance to TRY Out
Harding Plan Seen

CsnsiBssd from rase Ono
the Supreme Council has adopted pro-
gram, then will follow what Mr.. Hard
ing called at Marion the "town meet
ing stage of the development.
Then when disarmament reaches this
stage there will be occasion TO call a
conference Of all nations, and Mr.. HARD
ing will have two essential parts OF the
association Of nations, q council and an
assembly. Neither Of them will be
bound by the covenant Of Mr.. Wilson g
league. Both Of them will be some
what informal.
FREQ Of Senate's Authority
To enter the conference Of nations
called for the immediate purpose OF
agreeing on disarmament, Mr.. Harding
will be as free az he was to enter the
Supreme Council lie will not have to
20 To the Senate for authority. Indeed,
the Senate has already paved the way
for, him BY passing a disarmament reso
luton. Mr.. Harding can direct COL
onel Harvey, or any other OF his AM
bnssadors, to sit in the conference as
his personal representative, or he may
send personal envoy to II.
Once called, the conference Of nations
may set a date for reconvening, or 1t
may adjourn subject to call by the Su-
preme Council. 1t may be virtually an
assembly Of nations, purely voluntary,
like the Supreme Council, but just as
permanent for all practical purposes as
IL that body which has been transact
ing international business ever since the
close Of the war.
The whole organization will be ten
tative. II IL justifes its existence by
showing a. capacity to preserve peace II
will probably tend to displsce the pres
cnt League of Nations, which will be
deprived Of It's function.
Mr.. Harding will in this way bo able
to let the country test out international
CO. opertaion without committing 1t tc
the signing Of any agreement such as
works, IL the country finds II acceptable
the Administration can go to the Sen
ate with q proposal Of a more perma
nent organization Of the, internationa
association with the assurance that
public opinion will make his troubles ir
the Senate light. At the same time HI
is free to withdraw whenever he will
ns he is now free to withdraw from thu
Supreme Council.
Saw His Opportunity
This IL the line which the develop
ment Of an association Of nations arount
the Supreme Council will take. 1t II
what Mr.. Harding had in mind when HI
welcomed the invitation to enter th'
Supreme Council.
To strengthen The Hague Court woult
require treaties Of arbitration, and NJ
association Of nations would be complete
without an effective court Of arbitra
tion. But even the bitter cnders Of tn
Senate are committed to the buildini
up Of The Hague Court and to the pas
sage of necessary treaties Of arbitrn
ton. The Supreme Council and tn
conference Of nations which will soone
or later be called can work out thccour
and arbitration program.
The difficulty that confronts accom-
plishing an association In this way
the attitude Of the small nations towar
the present assembly Of the League an
toward the Wilson covenant. DispatchP
from Europe advise that the smalle
nations, alarmed BY tho standing whic
the Supreme Council has obtained. ar
taking steps to strengthen the Assembly