The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-12
LETTER EXPLAINS HIS STAND
Washington Conference Must
Have Practical Result.
Letter Intended TO Correct Wide
spread MisapprehensiOn.

washington, Oct. 12.-President
Harding today sounded the death
knen to idealistic hopes that the
Forthcoming armament conference IN
Washington will attempt anything
approaching worldwide disarmament.
In the present status of the world.
the president said universal disarma-
ment is beyond hope of realization
and If the conference in Washington
next month effects a reasonable lin
itation we shall think great things
have been accomplished"
To Correct Misrepresentation.
The presidents views-the frankest
he has yet expressed-were given in a
letter to Miss Ella L. Freed. No. As
Lenox Road, Brooklyn. one of the
thousands of persons who have writ
ten to the White House on the dis
armament question.
The letter was designed to correct
what the administration believes to be
a widespread misapprehension con-
corning the aims and purposes of the
November conference.
President Harding had previously
answered a letter of Miss Freed 5
seeking to correct the impression that
the conference was going to be dis
armament" conference.
LAhAattAAS AALASOIlAUA A4AAAllldhAOAA
In replying, Miss Freed stated that
his letter seemed to bring d message
OF hopelessness' and she asked him to
explain what was meant by reason
sb1e limitation"
The presidents second letter today
Contained the explanation:
by reasonable Imitation" the
president stated, Il mean something
practicable that there is a chance to
accomplish rather than an ideal that
there will be no chance to realize"
Before. there can be universal dis
armament the president stated. there
must be a revolutionary reorganiza-
ton of human nature and the present
time is not propitious for such revo-
luton. The text of the presidents let
ter follows:
The Presidents Letter.
''The White House, Washington, Oct. IL.
MY Denr Miss Freed:
Your letters. among others, that come to
me suggest a widespread apprehension
as to the Aims Of the conference Of limita-
ton of armaments in my letter OF october
3 ] said to you: i think / ought to correct
vour impression about the expectation OF
universal disarmament II is very erTon-
going so far as that. If We can get ren-
sonnble limitation I'VE shall think that
great things have been accomplished.
Z You replied that my letter seemed to
bring n message Of hopelessness to those
seeking universal disarmament and asked
by reasonable limitation | mean some
thing practicable that there Is chance TO
accomplish. rather than an ideal that there
would be no chance to realize. 1t is nee
essnry to deal with actualities; to do the
best pOssible. Universal disarmament
would be beyond hope Of realization; even
10 its desirability at this time might be
questioned Thousands Of years of history
recording the wars and controversies OF
mankind, suggest that human nature would
require revolutionary reorganization TO
make universal disarmament possible. d
consideration of the present state of the
world must. Think, enforce the conclusion
that this Is not a hopeful time to undertake
TINT kind of revolution.
ION the other hand a world with the
horrors of recent experiences scared into
It's mind and staggering under the load OF
debt and armaments, has generously JUST
fled our hope for n favorable attitude
toward the practical effort. the sincere be-
ginning that we are attempting. The fine
spirit in which the lending nations have
received the invitation to meet and con-
slider these things is altogether encOurag-
ing To undertake the impossible and IAN
might leave 0ur last state worse than our
first. The attitude of the nations warrants
confidence that we will not fail but rather
that substantial results will be accom-
plished calculated to lessen the armament
burden and to reduce the danger Of armed
conflict I feel that in such an effort we
are entitled to the support Of all people
who would be glad-as l can assure you
I woud-tO see still more accomplished If
possible.
(Sigued) WARREN G. HARDING"