New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-10-16
Welcomes Public Aid but
Protests ''Unnecessary
Embarrassment for the
American Delegation
ants Public to
Show Confidence
Churches TO Have Special
Prayers Nov. 8, Services
Nov. III, Mass Meetings

From The Tribuno's Washington Btsyeou
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-Helpfa. i.
suggestions from public spirited citizens
in solving the questions that will come
before the Conference on the Linita.
ton Of Armament will be welcomed. but
the important work of The American
delegates must be performed without
unnecessary embarras n1ent,' Secretary
OF State Hughes, head Of the American
commissioners, wrote to-day in a let
ter to Miss Christina Merriman, tempo.
rary chairman of the National Council
for Limitation of Armament.
The letter was in reply 10 orc from
Miss Merriman, in which she declared
that dispatches from Washington re-
Gently had impugned the motives Of her
organization and implied that the Ad-
ninistraton was opposed to any CO.
operation from the public. Miss Mer-
rinlan explained that the object Of the
National Council was to "atimuiAte in
telljgent interest in the stated objects
OF the conference, coordinate work and
avoid duplication Of time, effort and
, expense" She added that she would
not believe that the Administration re-
sents the tremendous wave Of public
interest in the conference or resents
the attempt to direct that interest in
nteiligently." She offered to confer
with Secretary Hughes if Desired
Welcomes Public Aid
In his reply Secretary Hughes said {:
y
Department welcomes the aid Of public
spirited citizens in furthering the OBJ
jects of the Conference on the Limita-
tion Of Armament and keenly desires to
facilitate all who are engaged in the
effort TO give accurate information and
to develop sound opinion. I am net
sufficiently Informed as to the plans Of
your organization TO comment upon
them, and certainly ! do not wish to
DE put in the position of crticizing an
attempt, as you put it, to direct public
interest intelligcntly.
"Reing deeply in earnest in this mat-
ter and solic tcus for the success Of
negotiations which involve grave dini-
cuities and viii undoubtedly aft ord
many opportunities Cor misunderstand-
'.ng' am naturally anxious that the
American people should place conf
dencc in the American delegation. and
that those who are most Interested in
the objects to be attained will pcrmit
US to cndeavor to attain tnem and to
perform our important work without
unnecessary embarrassment It is quite
clear from your letter that you share
this view"
Special prayers for the success of the
objects Of the Conference on the
ldnltation of Armament on November
g, the Sunday before Armistice Day. in
the churches throughout the country
were urged to-day b. the Federal
! Council Of the Churches Of Christ in
America. An appeal, issued in accord
ance with the request Of President
Harding, calls on all congregations to
/ hold specla! services on November Il
at the time of the opening of the con
ference and the holding of the me-
mortal service to the unknown soldier
/ In addition, there Will be two minutes
Of silent prayer throughout the land at
noon.
Churches to Hold Mass Meetings
Mass meetings on behalf of the lin
itation Of armament will be held by
/ the churches in practically every city
in the country the latter part of Octo-
bcr and the early part of November.
One hundred responses to the invi-
'at'oh OF SahVel NOmperS TO prom
nent American men and women 10
serve on the advisor committee OF the
! american Federation Of Labor on the
! arms conference have beer received
Mr.. Gompers anno0nced. Those who
have accepted will meet in Washington
/ next Tuesday to formulate plans bv
/ which they car assist in the work Of
! The conference.
A number Of prominent persons have
/ written the labor leader commencing
( nc Gompers advisory committee plan,
Colonel Arthur Woods, now in charoe
! If the emergency unemployment pro
am OF National Unemploy ment
! Conference, said; 1T is every ones duty
heip' along our government in the
! italy importan, wcrk X has under
aiken 20 reduce armamoats IN Z. pr;.c-
ticnbie, workable way