The Washington herald., 1921-07-13
ARMSPARLEY s
MAYLEADU.S.s
nToLEAClE
Acceptable Association
Would Please Mr..
Harding. =
MATTERS INVOLVED
INVITE AGREEMENT
France Is First Nation to
Formally Approve
Conference.
~ ROBERT ,. RENDER

President Harding would be pleas
ed IL the forthcoming armament con
ference to be held in washington
gave root to an association Of ma
tions such as the United States could
enter.
As previously forecast the proposed
conference holds the germ Of such an
association. Mr. Harding is pledged
both in campaign speeches and In
his first message TO Congress 20 at
tempt organization Of some inter
national understanding for the pres
ervation Ct peace. Further, he re-
cards the scope of the proposed con-
ference's discussions as virtually uns
limited
Has Wide Scope.
Starting out with Far Eastern
problems and Limitation Of srms-
ment as numbers one and two On
the agenda, il Is the belief OF lead
ers here that discussion may well
broaden out to clear up many prob
lens perpiexIng the world. In view
of this likelihood administration
spokesmen see the possibility OF q
new association OF nations-snd.
admittedly. they would welcome such
a development
An international assembly might
well develop, il is said. out OF ma
chinery established for keeping =
check on international armament.
Once created, this assembly would
meet at stated intervals and inter
national exchange OF views on prob
lens confronting the world would
be added to reports on armament
Couple with this assembly an inter-
national court along the lines Of the
present court established under the
league Of nations and the result IS
an organization much as Mr. Hard
ing has contemplated from the nrs,.
Pfscstes Irreee.e1I.kIe.-
Il would eliminate the super gov
ernment" alleged to control individ-
ual nations under the present league.
And without binding pledges to use
force IL would be expected to meet
with the approval Of the so-called
irreconcilable element in the Senate.
Meantime. Japan still continues TO
be the enigma in the situation
ference. France is the first nation
in with a formal acceptance of Mr..
Harding's suggestion. The note
from the French government, trans
mitted through the American En-
bassy at Paris, declared, without
qualification, the pleasure of France
in accepting. Englsnd's acceptsnee
was known in advance of the ''ia-
formal but direct" notes sent out
last Saturday night by Secretary
Hughes. and only the formality OF
sending an official note remains
with the British government. Chi
nese acceptance. il was stated au-
thoritstively today. lis a foregone
conclusion" and there is no doubt
as to Itsly's intention.
Japan Delays Move.
Nothing, however. has been
heard from Japan, either formally
or informally, il is stated. And
there is reason to believe that Japan
never communicated a response. 80
far as this government is concerned.
even to the informal "feelers" sent
out on the subject weeks ago. u
is the belief here. however. thtt
Japan will come in" rather than
be held up to the world. like Ger
obstacle to the armament 'limits-
tion and world peace.
Until Japan is neard from there
can, Of course. be no definite action
toward working out details OF the
conference. There are many rami-
fications, particularly as regards
the agends or program Of discus
sion. And an interesting phase OF
the situation is the fact that the
governments course toward toe
Philippines. now seeking independ-
ence. may be deterEaGE-d by Wha;
solution. IL any. is made Of Far
Eastern problems.
1t is held likely that. in view Of
events both at home and abroad.
the conference would not get uu-
der way before November. ARMS
tice Day" is rather favored by Pres
ident Harding as an especially Mt
ting date upon which to convene
.