The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-10
All Delegates for Arms ParIey
Now in Washington.
Only British Not in Eleventh
Hour Conference.
BALFOUR THE LAST TO ARRIVE
Attitude of All "Wait and See
American Proposals"
Senate Prepared to Take Active
Hand in Program.

(By the Associated Press)
Washington, Nov. 10.-Active ex-
change of views is taking place be-
tween delegations to the armament
conference in order to agree on the
program for the inaugural meeting
Saturday.
Up to the present il seems that the
opening address delivered by Presi-
dent Harding will be followed by the
proposal from the English delegation
to appoint Secretary Hughes as pres
ident of the conference which it IS
expected will be approved unani-
mously.
Secretary Hughes will address few
words Of welcome to the foreign dele
gates but it has not yet been decided
whether there would be any replies.
Be Very Few Speeches.
A proposal has been made that NJ.
BRAND, being the only premier pres
ent, should speak in the name of all,
but it was thought that this is not
possible as each country has an atti
tude toward the conference not en-
tirely identical to the others. There
fore either every president of each
delegation will reply or nobody will
speak.
Immediately afterward. a commit
tee will be formed of the heads of the
delegates representing the five great
powers, already called the big five
for the drafting of the agenda. An
other committee composed Of the rep
resentatives of the delegation of the
four smaller countries, Holland, Por-
tugal, Belgium and China, will be
added for the agenda concerning far
eastern problems.
The conference will then adjourn
to Tuesday, when the reports of these
two committees will be presented.
Hold Final Sessions.
The eloquent presence of a simple
1lag-draped casket in the rotunda of
the national capitol today forced a
suspension of practically all Ameri-
can activities bearing on the arma-
ment conference, now but forty eight
hours away.
Most cf the foreign delegations
however, held final preliminary meet
ings at their respective headquarters.
The one exception was the British.
At their headquarters there was a
hustle of activity in expectation of the
arrival of the Right Honorable Ar
thur j. Balfour, who will guide Brit
aims course in the conference until
Lloyd George arrives. Balfour's ar
rival completes the conference cast.
Foreign Delegates Meet.
While the foreign delegations and
particularly the japanese and Chi
nese contingents have held almost
daily meetings for the past week. most
of them disclaim the preparation of
any set" program of national aims
for the conference.
wait until we see what America
has to propose" is the official an
nouncement of all the visiting for
eigners.
Arthur J. Balfour, acting head of
the delegation representing the British
empire in the armament and far east
ern conference, arrived in Washington
today with other members of his party
which landed at Quebec Tuesday.
simultaneously the delegates from
New Zealand and Australia reached
the city, completing with the excep-
tion of Premier Lloyd George, who
has promised to come later. the Brit
ish representation in the conference.
senate May Take Hand.
Unless an immediate suspension of
naval construction is decided upon
during the first few days of the con-
ference on limitation of armament and
far eastern questions. Senator Pome-
rene, Democrat, of Ohio, member of
the senate foreign relations committee,
will demand senate action on his reso-
luton authorizing President Harding
to suspend. in whole or in part, the
present navy building program of the
United States, he announced today.
Senator Pomerene's announcement
following closely a visit he paid to the
president at the White House, was re-
garded as foreshadowing renewal of
his fight to have American naval con-
struction stopped pending any dispcsi-
ton the conference may make of the
moot problem of reducing naval arma-
ment.
In official circles. it was predicted
that the Pomerene resoltion would
meet with stiff opposition from Re
publican leaders of the senate.
Only Harding Knows.
Proposals to be made by the Amer
lean delegation to the conference on
limitation of armament apparently
constitute the only suggestion pre-
pared in advance as to ways and
means of curtailing naval eXpendi-
lures without sacrifice by any power
of national security.
Great Britain is not known to have
worked out any formula. Japan is
awaiting the American suggestion:
France and Italy are more concerned
with land forces than nav.es. Two
days before the conference opens the
American proposals remain a closely
guarded secret.
1t is doubtful If any but President
Harding. the four American delegates
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