New-York tribune., 1921-12-24
NoEntanglement Thought
Of,NoneWillBe Negotiat-
ed, He Says; Denies u. S.
Delegates Withhold Facts
Greatest Step for
Peace in History
Asserts Hope of World
Lies i'm Conferences Be-
fore, Not After, Wars
By Carter Field

w WASdlNd1 1ON, Dec. Z3.-ln
smashing attack on the quibbling
over whether the main islands of
Japan were included in the four
power Pacific treaty President Har-
ding to-day issued a statement in
which he declared that the hope of
civilization lies in having peace con-
ferences before wars, instead of
after them.
"Why, if there was a menace of
peace in JAPAN" he asked, what
objection could there be for the
United States to sit down with her
friend in the Orient and with the
other great powers and discuss how
the matter could be adjusted? If
some one had done that when Aus
tria was threatening Serbia there
would have been no European war"
Halt War by Farley
''That is the object of the four
party treaty." said the statement in
another place, after urging that con-
ferences should be held at the time
the disputes arise, and not after the
war has been fought. "That is why
say the small lack of agreement in
constituting it is not significant"
The Presidents statement was un-
premeditated. He was talking with the
newspaper men. as he does twice a
week. At the conclusion of his state
ment, in answer to a question, he was
asked for the unusual privilege Of
! quoting what he had said. After some
hesitation it was agreed that the ste
nographer's notes might be used.
Text of Presidents Statement
The text Of President Harding's
statement follows:
"The President will offer no COM
ment on the disputes which attempt
to magnify the differing construc-
tions on the four-power treaty. To
him these are unimportant. The big
things aimed at are understandings
for. peace and an agreement to meet
and discuss the preservation Of
peace whenever it is threatened.
mo alliance or entang ement is
thought of, none will be negotiated.
1t would be better to rejoice over
things accomplished than to dwell on
differing views which can be of no
great consequence.
"The President is unwilling that
the unjustified charge that the
United States delegates are with
holding information shall go unchal-
lenged. He had full confidence, else
he had not chosen them, and he has
full confidence now and is more than
gratifed over their efforts, because
they are working out the greatest
contribution to peace and good will
which has ever marked the Christ
mas time in all the Christian era.
Actuality the Biggest Thing
''It is one thing to talk about the
ideals of peace, but the biggest thing
is to seek the actuality. This the
conference is doing, in harmony with
: an overwhelming American senti-
ment, and world sentiment too,
and in full accord with cherished
American traditions"
5 Replying to the question: "Do you
feel that the world has made great
progress IN the direction of peace and
good will?" President Harding said:
II think / made some such reply
,, to similar question at the last in
terview. l do think so. | believe it
with all my heart. do not say that
with the thought of arrogating to
the United States of America any
greater part of the contribution than
: that which has been made by other
nations Of like Importance and like
civilization. But it seems to me that
in 1921. as we have come to know
: more fully the aftermath of the war,
as we have come to appraise the un-
speakable cost of it all, there is q
rrn+,A iv,< ko1 r%c c<
: that that sort of appeal-the appeal
to arms--to settle the international
! questions is futile thing, and that
we are unworthy of our position and
unworthy of the blessings which fall
to q righteous civilization if we do
not find some means for righteous
adjustment without appeal to slaugh
ter and waste and all the distresses
that attend. think that conviction has
rooted itself throughout the world.
and there must come some helpful,
: progressive expression of it. / think
e that expression is being given at this
e conference. I have no thought to
g preach on this subject to-day, but
make your own applications, please.
Il Find Way to Agreement
When men sit. about the con-
= ference table and look each other in
the face and look upon the problems
deliberately, without passion, they
find the way to come to an. agree
ment. And after all there has never
been conflict in the world that has
II not been settled in the end in that
u way. You have war; you destroy
thousands or millions of men and
measureless treasure, and then you
gather about table and settle it.
have feeling that mankind has be-
lie come wise enough to sit down before
rs the war and try to settle it. And
lie that is the object of the four-party
,r treaty. That is why / say the small
j. lack of agreement in constituting it is
IS not significant.
o. "Why, if there was a menace of
IN peace in Japan, what objection could
to there be for the United States to sit
down with her friend in the Orient
to and with the other great powers and
8. discuss how the matter could be ad-