The Washington herald., 1921-08-13
Given Full Responsibility
For Arrangements of
Arms Conclave.
DEFINITE RESULT i.
AIM OF AMERICA
Secretary of State Likely
To Be Selected as Pre-
siding Officer.
By ROBERT ). BENDER.

President Harding has asked Sec
retary of State Hughes to head the
American negotiating commission
at the forthcoming armament con-
ference At the same time Hard
ing told Hughes that not only was
he to be the first named on the
delegation. but upon his shoulders
would fall responsibility for making
all arrangements attending the con-
ciave.
Official announcement of this at
the White House yesterday makes
it possible now to give an authori-
Latiye summary Of what is the gov
Crnments position relative to GER
tain phases of the conference work.
As to Limitation OF Armament.
The American commission VIM
take the position that the world ex-
rects the conference to effect def
mite resuls- Hughes will not be
content with mere visions. He be-
lieves the conferees must put their
feet on the ground, look each other
n the eye and determine exactly
what can be done about what ought
to be done.
The Americans will insist upon
practical achievements to relieve
the world from its staggering arma-
rlent costs. Definite machinery to
this end will be insisted upon.
As TO InternationaI Friction.
Problems in the Far East-ard
The bulk of them are there-as
we'll as internal questions which
have been or are a source of fric-
ton elsewhere in the world, must
he cleared up definitely. because
they represent the primary purpose
Of the conference-armame reduce
lions Every point upon which the
American government is now nego-
ttatfng or has recorded q protest,
must be removed from the path of
peace II Hughes has his way.
This implies pending settlements
with allied powers other than ia.
pan and opens a field which observ-
ers here believe Inevitably will de-
relop foundations for either a new
association of nations or a modifi-
cation of the present league such as
will permit American entrance.
As to an s<Open Conference.7
The American commission will
not initiate a movement for a con-
ference at which all negotiations
would be open to the public. 1t
win favor facilities for the fullest
publicity compatible with the best
interests of the conference itself.
It is understood a program of
publicity will be worked out
whereby announcements will be
made of progress in the negotia-
tions, and. periodically. there would
be a resume of the general posi-
tions taken by the different delega-
tions toward a given problem under
discussion
As to the Agenda.
Negotiations regarding the pro-
gram to be taken up at the confer
ence will be carried on in secret,
and there probably will be no def
Rite announcement on conclusions
reached much before the conference
opens. All nations and many inter-
ests, il is stated, must be consulted
on this all-important problem, and
until final settlement is effected no
nation would wish to feel fore
closed. IL is explained.
The United States. however. will
urge preparation of a sufficiently
definite agenda that the world may
know just what the conference aims
to achieve in advance of its open
ing. Elasticity. however, will be
suggested in this matter to permit
a possible widening of the confer
ence's scope should that be found
advisable after the negotiations
be gin.
Numbers Not Yet FIXED.
The size of the delegations has
not yet been determined. 1t is as
sUmed that Great Britain will have
each of her dominions represented
in addition to the home government.
Five or six leaders are expected to
compose the main negotiating COM
missions. but in addition there will
be hundreds of experts, advisers and
secretaries.
Until the size is determined,
Harding will not finally offer places
on the American commission to any
save Hughes, 1t is indicated at the
White House. Hughes position in
the conference probably will be the
most powerful of any delegate. Not
CEly will he head the American COM
mission. meeting in his home cspi.
tai, but the usual procedure in such
make his selection as president and
presiding officer Of the conference
almost certain. French Premier
Clemenceau was in the same posi-
tfon at the Paris conference, al
though former President Wilson
theoretically outranked the French