The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-07-11
GOAL OF US.
FOR WORLD
TO DISARM
Course Definitely Fixed =
Also Seeks Solution of Pac-
ific and Far East Problems
Great Britain Pleased.
AWAIT HARDING WORDS
tBv Associated Press,

set today toward two goals Of inter
national importance limitation of
armament and solution of problems
involving the Pacific and the far
east.
President Harding, ii was revealed
in state department announcement
published today, has approached with
informal but definite inquiries the gov
ernments of Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan TO ascertain whether
it would be agreeable to those nations
to participate in a conference to be
held in Washington at an agreed upon
date for the discussion Of armament
limitation.
He furthermore has suggested to the
nations interested in the problems of
the Pacific and far east that there
be undertaken in connection with the
armament conference the consider
alton of all matters bearing upon their
solution with view to reaching a
common understanding with respect to
principles and policies in the far
east"
The state department announcement
said that if the proposal for limita-
ton of armament conference were
found acceptable, formal invitations
for the conference would be issued.
Whether any responses to the inquir-
les directed to the allied and associ-
ated powers have been received by the
president and not indicated in the
departments announcement.
LONDON, July 11.-President Hard
ing's message looking to the calling of
an international conference on the
limitation of armaments has been re-
ceived with the utmost pleasure by
Great Britain, Premier Lloyd George
declared in the House of Commons
today.
THE world has been looking to the
United States for such lead" Mr.
Lloyd George declared in referring to
President Harding's message, Il am
confident that the house will esteem
| 1t as an act of farseeing statesman
ship and will whole-heartedly wish it
success. No effort will be lacking to
make it so on the part of the British
empire, which shares to the full the
liberal and progressive spirit inspir-
ing it."
Harvey Present
Colonel George Harvey, the Ameri-
can ambassador. was in the gallery of
the House to hear the prime minis
ter's statement, which was interrupted
frequently by cheering,
Newspapers of London printed re-
ports of the Presidents proposal this
morning, giving the news the place of
utmost Importance in their columns,
and what editorial comment there was
was most appreciative of Mr.. Harding's
action.
| China would be admitted to the con-
| ference for the purpose of taking part
| in the consideration of far eastern
! problems, and there was a feeling here
| today that the discussions would bring
about denite understanding which
would include virtually the whole field
of international relations. George Har-
vey, the American ambassador TO
| Great Britain, is understood to have
conveyed President Harding's proposal
/ to Prime Minister Lloyd George at
Chequers court yesterday
| Voice Appreciation.
| Dominion Premiers, who were
! spending the week end with Mr.. LLOYD
George, Joined with him in heartily re-
ceiving Mr.. Harvey, and voicing ap-
probation of Mr.. Harding's action in
asking for conference. Newspaper
comment would appear to indicate
deep qualification on the part of the
! British people over the prospects of a
disarmament conference, it being felt
that such meeting would clear away
| the difficulties surrounding a renewal
of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. to
which there seems to have been a
rising tide of opposition.
/ Internal affairs in England would at
once reflect the relief felt by a limita-
] ton OF ornaments, il was declared
here today, and the conference would
thus be of intense interest to the
| people throughout this country.
! PARIS, July II. Sheldon White
house. counselor of the American en-
bassy, called at the French foreign
office just before noon today and talk
/ ed with M. de Peretti de Ia Bocca. di.
rector of political affairs, on the pos.
sibility of holding a conference on
| disarmament.
/ Mr. Whitehouse delivered no docu-
ment in this connection. merely en-
gaging in a tentative conversation on
the subject.
/ Official comment on President Har.
ding's initiative for a conference on
the limitation of armament is with
held pending receipt of the official in
vitation, but unofficial opinions, gath
cred in official circles, are to the
effect that France certainly will &C.
cept the invitation if one is received
Attitude Unchanged
The attitude of the French govern
ment. however, is said TO be unchang
ed since it was set forth in the assem-
bly, of the league of nations last De
cember by Leon Bourgeois, France
1t is explained, is ready and would be
glad to reduce her armament and save
the heavy expense involved as soon
as she can safely do so. but any de
cision on this question must depend
upon absolute security from the east
| Inquiries in Official circles disclose
| the impression that such security has
| not yet been obtained. The Upper 81
| lesian troubles and the nationalist re
| action in certain parts of Germany are
cited as indications that the time has
not yet come when France can safely
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