New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-30
Harding g Set
Against Extra
Arms Parley
Also, President Holds to
Belief Powers Can Settle
All Questions i'm Council
as Arranged Originally
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, July 30 President
Harding is unmoved so far by the
arguments Of the British, Japanese and
French for postponement until spring
Of the conference on armament limita
tion, Pacific and Far Eastern questions.
The President is understood to have
told visistors to-day that he still con-
sidered November II as the most likely
date.
incidentally, the President clearly is
delighted with the progress made
toward the conference. He believes
that satisfactory solution of all the
controversies between this country and
Japan, coupled with an armament linz
itaton agreement which would enable
this country as we'll as others to reduce
taxes necessitated by the naval build
ing program, would make his Admin
lstration stand out in history as one
during which the greatest step toward
making wars unlikely was accom-
plished.
A somewhat detailed explanation of
the ADMINISTRATORS position in op-
posing the preliminary conference sug-
gested by the British Foreign Office
through Sir Auckland Geddes was made
by high Administration spokesman
to-day.
Announcement Definite
80 much has appeared in the papers
emanating from London in regard to
to preliminary conference he said,
that l may say in regard to it that
the attitude Of this government is
sympathetic toward any suggestion
tending to insure the success of the
coming disarmament conference. How
ever, the Presidents announcement
concerning the conference was definite
as to the object, the subject to be dis
cussed and where it was to be held.
And we have received manifestations
of acquiescence from all the powers with
no qualifications as to the place or
the purpose of this conference.
"a distinction exists between the
conference itself and preliminary con-
ference. The suggestion of prelim-
mary conference would tend to convey
the impression that there are to be two
conferences, that it is the intention to
put off indefinitely the conference on
disarmament while the preliminaries
are being discussed. l do not think it
is we'll to give the impression that the
real conference will be held at an in
definite time or to make it appear that
the success of the disarmament confer
on tyoO m, hfa nf
liminary conference.
"We would take a good many chances,
one way or the other, by holding a pre-
liminary conference or by holding one
conference and then another. The pre-
liminary conference. therefore, is such
departure, and involves so many con-
tingencies that it can hardly be re-
garded with favor. No adequate reason
exists for holding it.
Would Avoid Haste
"Should such conference be hur-
riedly called the opinions of the do
minion premiers would of necessity
have to be briefly presented. The Far
Eastern powers would be incommoded
in having full representation and any
thing that might be done in that way
would have to be referred back to the
distant powers.
AS W CHc udCe OI CHc actual con-
ference itself this government does
not object to late October or early
September, but desires a time when
all can come and none will possess any
advantages. Frankly, we are anxious
to have it as early as possible.
"In the event of a preliminary con-
ference being held lie powers not IN
vited would be perfectly right in re-
earding it as {. disccurtesy. I don't
think the American people would like
i. very we'll, either--the spectacle of
two great governments powerfully rep
resented at preliminary conference.
how would the Eastern powers feel
about it? The American people are
whole-heartedly behind this thing. and
l am sure that their opinion would be
against conference or anything which
might tend to obscure the real issues
and the prospect of a speedy consid-
GRAFTON of disarmament"