Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-12
CONFERENCE OF
DELEGATES
Is HELD TODAY
Starts Month Of Careful
Preparation For Disarna-
ment Session.
Steps Will be Taken Toward
Movement that Can Be Ac-
cornpished, Says Harding

Washington. Oct ia month of
careful preparation for the Ameri-
can governments part, In the arma-
ment conference began today, with
the first meeting here Of the four del
eeates selected by President Harding
to speak for the United States,
Diplomatic. military and naval data
OF a specific nature already had been
compiled for the guidance of the del
eeadons, but the real task Of fitting
the whole mass Of information TO-
gether and building upon" it a con-
structve program remained to be
done by tho delegates themselves in
precede the opening Of the conference
on November II.
To Survey Situation.
Today's meeting was designed to do
no more than scratch the surface of
the problem ahead Of the American
1t was called by Sec
retary Hughes, head Of the delegation,
to permit a preliminary survey Of the
situation and of general outline OF
the things to be done. President
Harding had communicated his ideas
through Mr.. Hughes and memoranda
were available covering various points
OF technical informatlGa. but person
al interviews with the president and
with military and naval experts were
part of the delegations plan, during
Its period of preparation.
Some hint of the presidents hopes
Tor the armament conference were
given as the delegates were assem-
bling by publication Of letter the
president had written in reply to "a
prayer that he work for universal
disarmament" Absolute. Disarmament;
MI. Harding wrote, was beyond ahoi,e
of realisation and perhaps not very
desirable, but "a reasonable limita-
tion Of armament was a practical
PROPOSITION with some hope Of accom-
plishment.
Discussed Meeting.
Although today's meeting was the
first at which all the American dele
gates have been present since their
selection, all Of them have talked over
the coming negotiations with Presi-
dent Harding.
The letter in which President Hard
ing outlined his hope for reasonable
was made public at the
White House, as expressing the execu-
tives attitude toward the views of all
those who have written him to work
L. L
was addressed to Miss Ella L. Freed
Brooklyn, n. Y, and was as follows:
u Presidents Letter.
my Dear Miss Freed
Your letters, among others that
come to me, suggest a widespread
ension as to the aims Of
the conference on Limitation Of arma-
nents. In my letter of October fifth,
said to you:
think I ought to correct your
about the expectation Of
universal disarmament. 1t ia very err
roneous even to suggest that we con-
template going 30 far as that, If we
can get a reasonable Limitation we
shall think that great things have
been accomplished
You replied that my letter seem ed
20 bring message of hopelessness to
hose seeking universal disarmament,
Ind asked me to explain reasonable
by reasonable limitation. / mean
something practicable that there is a
chance to accomplish rather than an
deal that there would be no chance
% realize. 1t is necessary to deal with
to do the best possible
Universal disarmament would be be
7ond hope Of realization; even its de-
at this time. might we'll be
Thousands Of years Of his
ory recording the wars and controv-
ersies Of mankind, suggest that hu-
nan nature would require revolution
lry reorganization to make universal
possible. A consideration
II the present state Of the world
must. I think. before the conclusion
hat this is not a hopeful time to un-
iertake that kind Of revolution.
ION the other hand. a world with
he horrors of recent experiences
feared into its mind. and staggering
lnder the load of debt and arma-
nents, has generously justified our
1ope for a favorable attitude toward
he practical effort. the sincere begin
ling, that we are attempting. ! The
Inc spirit in which leading nations
,ave received the invitation to meet
Ind consider these things, lis altogeth-
# encouraging. To undertake the i'm
possible and fail, might leave our last
ude Of the nations warrants conf
hat substantial results will be Ac-
calculated to lessen the
armament burden and to reduce the
LANCER Of armed conflict feel that
n such an effort we are entitled to
he support OF all people who would
'e giad-As 1 assure you I would-fo
zee still more Accomplished II posi-
lie. ss@
Most sincerely yours,
Warren G.. Harding"
.ss 1910 4--N~ ------ s3fs s-35,sF
SAVED HIM FROM PRISON.
I = i IL ( j., I'll 4 j