Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-11-26
HARDING ADVANCES
PLANS FOR WORLDS
LEAGUE ON PEACE
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS AN ASSo'
CATION TO INCLUDE FORMER
ENEMY NATioNS-STARTS TO
FULFILL CAMPAIGN PLEDGES.

Washington, Nov. 26.--(By :, P)--
A continuing series Oh International
conferences, whose yrui,fon may be an
association of nations" has been sug'
gested informally By President Hard.
ing to some of the arms delegates ana
has met with their general approval.
The suggestion has by no means
reached the point Of a definite pro
posal, but 1t was revealed last night
the Presidents personal conversations
with foreign spokesman had greatly
increased his hope for new day in
international relationship as a result;
of the Washington conference.
II was indicated that the results OF
the negotiations here might be sub
mitted for approved not only to the
participating nations. but to those not
represented here, including Germany
and Russia.
Mr.. Harding contemplates a meet
ing of nations about the council table
once year to thresh out troublesome
questions and devise means for the
preserving Of peace. 1t is said to- b.
the hope Of the President that in the
fIlu ali lllt Sllldbtlti " "a
join with the great powers,
There is no indication that any
covenant or any constitution would be
proposed or that any elaborate inter
national machinery would be suggest
ed to convey 1t into effect.
Whether an international court OF
justice might be one of the results Is
a subject which the President is said
TO consider too nebulous for present
discussion. although he 10 known to
regard some such tribunal as a logical
part Of the plan.
His opinions on that subject have
been expressed in several public adj
dresses, but he never had made de-
tailed public statement of the exact
method by which a court could be
established.
Mr.. Harding's intention is said to
be to apply to the world situation the
principle of "a meeting of minds" as
he employed it in his preinauguration
days at Marion.
SO far Is he willing to go toward
dispensing with details. he is ready
to let the results OF the present con
ference and the plans for future meet
ings rest merely on a gentleman $
agreement" rather than a formal
treaty. Some members of the Ameri-
can delegation In the conference are
said to favor the treaty method, but
Mr.. Harding would as soon have ma
tons word as its band,
The President is said to have faith
that the Washington conference will
help TO put new face upon interna.
tional relationships and arouse new
sense OF national homer.
The hope Of the President for a con.
tinuation of conferences like the pres
ent one became known at a moment
when the arms delegates reached a
stage of their deliberations strongly
suggesting in itself that further nego-
tions will be necessary to consum.
mate the task begun here. Repre-
sentatives of the nine nations are said
to have decided yesterday to send an
international commission of jurists to
investigate China's judicial system,
and report next year to the various
foreign Offices.
1t also IS becoming apparent that
the Washington conference will not
be able to make final decisions on
some subjects relating to ornaments,
since subjects like the rules Of war
fare necessarily must be given a
worldwide consideration before the
powers will be willing to bind them
selves.
A continuing commission on aircraft
is regarded as another probable out
come of the conference, and it may
be that after limit has been set
on the submarine power of the ma
ti0ns there may be more perma.
nent body created to consider abolish
ment of underwater warfare.
It was not indicated whether the
President had suggested even inform
ally to the foreign delegates the adj
visibility Of inviting Germany and
other unrepresented nations to par
tieipate in the agreements reached
here
In the view Of most delegates 1t
would not be necessary for all the
nations to send delegates to Washing
ton to participate in the final agree
ments of the conference. Such pro
ceeding must lead to considerable de
lay, and it was generally predicted
the final proposals of the conference
simply would be transmitted to the
various foreign offices for acceptance