The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-11
PREPARAT|ONSFOR
FARLEY HAVE NOW
BEEN COMPLETED
United States Alone Has Pro-
poSal for Disarmament
Ready--0ptimism
Grows

Washington, November 1o.-The
great powers completed their prepa-
rations today for the conference on
limitation of armament.
Tonight their representatives lay
Ing by the role OF negotiators set
aside asa period of mourning for
Americas soldier dead the hours re-
naming before the conference as
sembles on Saturday.
The last OF the major delegations
was completed by the days arrivals
which included Arthur j. Balfour,
head of the British group until the
coming of Lloyd George, and addi-
tional delegates from New Zealand.
Australia and Italy.
Welcomed with all the ceremony
that can attend the advent of dis
tinguished spokesman of a great
power, Mr.. Balfour reached Wash
ington declaring conviction that
the conference would accomplish an
historic advance in international
amity.
only the delegation from Portugal
which is to arrive tomorrow, was
missing tonight from the roll of
those who will face each other about
the conference table when President
Harding makes the opening address
on Saturday,
Notably among the days confer
ences among the representatives of
the Individual nations was a meeting
of those who will comprise the sec
ond line of representation for the
United States, the advisory commit
tee named by President. Harding to
advise and assist" the American dell
egates. The committee completed its
organization by the authorization of
six subeommlttees to act as interpre-
tive agencies for American public
opinion on the questions before the
conference.
By exchanges among the partici-
pating nations, final agreement was
reached on the programme for the
opening day, last minute touches
were added to physical arrangements
In the conference hall and every de-
tail of the preparations was COM
pleted so that nothing would remain
to be done during tomorrow's season
of mourning.
AS finally drawn up. the plans for
the opening session will start the
conference with a minimum of frills
and diplomatic intracacies. Secre-
tary Hughes will bring the delegates
to order, there viii be a prayer,
President Harding will make short
address, a permanent chairman will
be chosen, and the conference Will
go to work forthwith.
President Harding will entertain
n dn1a a n the NhffQ
House Saturday Unless all surface
Indications arc decelving the United
States alone among the powers will
be ready to come forward at the
outset with a concrete proposal for
for armament limitation. This plan.
relating primarily to naval prob
lems therefore, appears to be des-
tined to become the first important
topic of negotiation although coun-
ter proposals are expected to be
brought in later and the discussion
is believed likely to lead the confer
ence very quickly into a consider
alton into Various far-flung ques-
lions of policy.
AS the opening hour approaches
there is manifest a feeling of grow
ing optimism among. many of the
delegates coupled with q determine
ton not to permit the conference TO
start into troublesome fields with
which it has no proper concern. The
British delegation is making its
plans for six-weeks' session and
most of the other national groups
are almost as hopeful of quick ac-
complishment.
Heartening messages of support
also are multiplying as the day OF
the conference draws near. OF
variety reaching President Harding
today one pledged the sympathetic
interest OF the Jewish organization
B'Nai Birth and another came from
Geneva, Switzerland, expressing the
hope of the international labor con-
ference there that the negotiations
VIII achieve solid and lasting work
for the firmer establishment of