The New York herald., 1921-10-13
Confident Conference VIII
Lessen Burden and Re-
duce Danger Of Armed
Conflict.
AGENDA IS ENLARGED
American Members Favor Full
Publicity, but Decision Must
Rest With International
Gathering.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Oct. -.
The first meeting of the American
delegation to the arms conference
furnished President Harding today
with the occasion to give public
warning not to expect the impossible
from the coming international gath.
ering.
While the delegates were meeting
and organizing President Harding
made public letter he had written
to Miss Ella l.. Freed, 46 Lenox road,
Brooklyn. expressing his views Of
what rs to be accomplished.
From the time the invitations 10
the conference were issued Admi,iie-
tration officials have been DISTURBED
by misconception that appeared t. be
prevalent relative to It's object. T.,at
was suggested by the name wtrch
had been attached to the gatherins-
conference on disarmament-wh,c
was deprecated by American csfi.
cials
The President boldly proclai M
that universal disarmament not ogly
is impossible OF attainment now but
even it's desiraoil.ty is questioned.
In attaining this belief the Presidans
sees In the pages Of the pact the fm.
possibility OF belier that human oa.
ture has reached point where 4he
entire elimination OF arms ia rsac.
ticabje. a survey OF the present. he
believes, renders the same CONCLUSION
Inevitable.
i The President's Letter.
! The Presidents letter TO Miss Freed
follows:
Ny dear Hiss Freed
Your letters. aruong others that
come TO me, suggest widespread
misrepresentation as 10 the aims OF
/ the conference on Limitation OF
/ o'ith't4A-NiAN- lu NY lttiCE Oh Nt-rO>
Der said to you:
| II think I ought to correct your
! impression about the expectation
! Of universal disarmament. It IT,
/ very erroneous even TO suggest
that we contemplate going so far
! AS thar, IF We can get a reason.
able limitation We shall think that
! great things have been accom-.
plished."
You replied that my letter
seemed TO bring message OF
hopelessness TO those seeking uni
/ versal disarmament. and asked me
TO explain reasonable limitation
BY reasonable limitation mean
something practicable that there
is a chance to accomplish, rather
| than an ideal that there would be
no chance to realize. II Is neces-
! sary TO deal with actualities; to
do the best possible. Universal
disarmament would be beyond
hope Of realization: even It's de-
siraoiiity at this time might we'll
be questioned. Thousands OF years.
OF history rec' ding tho wars ana
controversies ot mankind suggest
that human nature would require (
| revolutionary reorganization 70 (
make universal disarmament pos
sible. consideration OF the prrs-
ent state OF the world must, I
IL. a.
this Is not a hopeful time 10 ur- /
I dertake that kind Of revolution.
| On the other hand. a world with
! the horrors OF recent experiences
scared into its mind, and stagger.
| ing under the load Of debt and
| armaments. has generously justi-
fed our hope for favorable at
titude toward the practical effort,
the sincere beginning. that ve ara
attempting. The fine spirit In
which leading nations have re-
ceived tie invitation 20 meet and.
consider these things Is altogether
encouraging. To undertake the
impossible and fail might leave
our last state worse than our first,
The attitude OF the pations war
rants confidence that we will not
fail but rather that substantial
results will be accomplished. call
culated 10 lessen the armament
burden and to reduce the danger
OF armed conflict. feel that in
such an effort we are entitled to
the support Of all people whs
would be glad-as can assure