The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-07-11
Ranks with Peace Conference

Ranks With Peace Conference
London. July II President Hard
ing'S note regarding Il conference on
the limitation OF armaments was re-
ceivCd by the American Embassy here
yesterday and forwarded 10 AmbaSSa-
dor Harvey who was In the country.
The ambassador went TO Chequers
Court and saw Premier Lloyd George
there.
This morning the subject is under
Nt0Cd TO have been discussed by the
British cabinet here.
There was great activity mt the
British foreign office early i'm the day.
Lord CurZOn, secretary for foreign Al
fairs, interviewed both Ambassador
Harvey and Baron HayaShi, the Jap
anese ambassador. before leaving for
the cabinet meeting.
President Harding'S proposal of n
disarmament conference among the
principal allied and associated pow
trS, was the one topic OF conversation
in diplomatic circles today. Express
siOnS OF satisfaction were general and
the belief was voiced that the confer.
.eDee. ii II were agreed upon would
only be comparable in Importance to
the Paris peace conference.
Washington, July 1.-THE course
of the United States today was set
definitely toward goals of interna-
tional Decentralization of arm
ament and solution of problems of the
Pacific and the Far East.
President Harding it was revealed
in state department announcement
published today, has approached with
informal but definite inquiries the
governments of Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan to ascertain whether
il 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 'considera
tion of all matters bearing on their
solution with view to reaching a
common understanding with respect
East.
The state department announce
nIent said that if the proposal for a
limitation of armament conference
were found acceptable formal invita-
tion for the conference would be is
sued. Whether any responses to the
inquiries directed to the allied and as
sociated powers have been received by
the president was not indicated in the
department announcement. For that
reason great popular interest was at
tached to the statement by Mr.. Lloyd
George. the British premier, promised
for today, and which London advices
have indicated would touch upon the
matters indicated by Mr.. Harding.
The presidents statement follows:
"rhe president. in view of the far
reaching Importance of the question
of limitation of armaments, has ap-
preached with informal but definite
inquiry the group of powers generally
known as the principal allied and as.
sociated powers, that is: Great Brit
ain. France. Italy and Japan, to as.
certain whether it would be agreeable
to them to take part in a conference
on this subject to be held in Wash
ington at time to be mutually agreed
upon. If the proposal is found to be ac-
ceptable, formal invitations to such
conference will be issued. 1t is mani
fest that the question of limitation of
ornaments has a close relation to
Pacific and Far Eastern problems and
the president has suggested that the
powers especially Interested in these
problems should undertake in con-
nection with this conference, the con-
sideration of all matters bearing upon
their solution, with view to reach
ing a common understanding with re
spect to principles and policy in the
Far East. This has been communi.
Gated to the powers concerned and
China has also been invited to take
part in the discussion relating to Far
Eastern problems.
English Are Pleased
London, July Announcement
that President Harding had asked
Great Britain, France, Italy and Ja-
pan to confer at Washington on the
limitation of ornaments was printed
in this mornings papers, the news
getting the place of utmost impor-
tance in their columns and what edi-
torial comment there was was most
arpreciative of Mr.. Harding's action
China would be admitted to the
conference for the purpose OF taking
part in the consideration of Far East.
ern problems and there was feeling
here today that the discussion would