The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-26

The suggestion has by no
means reached the point of
definite proposal for such an as
ISOLATION, but 1t was revealed to-
night that the Presidents per-
Souai conversations with foreign
spokesmen on the subject had
greatly increased his hope for a
new day in International relation
ship aS result of the Washing
ton conference.
II WINS Indicated further that
MS first step toward world
wide recognition for the con-
ference plan, the results of the
negotiations here might he sub
mittcd for approval not only to
the participating nations, hut TO
those not represented here, In
Guiding Germany and Russia
So far as the suggestions of Mr..
have been made known tn "
a meeting of nations
about the council table once year.
to thresh out troublesome questions
and devise means for the preserva-
ton of peace. 1t is said to be the
hope of the President that in this
End all the smaller governments will
Join with the great powers in what
ever discussions may concern them
Or the world situation generally
No Covenant.
There Is no indication that any
covenant or constitution would pe
as the basis of the plan or
hat any elaborate international ma
would be suggested to carry
It into effect. The meetings might
be convened to consider special SUBJ
ieots or merely to survey internal
tional relationships and look for dam
ger points in general effort at
good understanding.
Whether an international court OF
justice might be one of the results
is subject which the President is
said to consider too nebulous tor
present discussion. although he is
known to regard some such tribunal
as logical part Of the plan he has
advocated for an Association of ma
tons" His opinions on that subject
have been expressed in several pub
lie addresses during the past year.
but he never has made a detailed
public statement of the exact method
by which court could be estab-
ished.
Kept Out Details
In fact, in his preliminary consid-
grafton of the best means toward in
cooperation, Mr.. Hard
ing is said by his friends to have
tried to keep his proposals as free
from detail as possible, with the de-
Iiberate purpose of avoiding comp,i-
cation. His intention is declared to
have been to apply the world situa-
ton in the broadest sense the prn-
ciple of the meeting of minds, as
in his preSinauguration days at Ma
rion.
So far ne IL willing 70 go to-
ward dispensing with details, 1t
Is declared, that he IN willing to
let the results of the present
conference and the plans for flu
ture meetings rest merely ON
"Rentlemen's agreement" rather
than n formal treaty. Some MEM
bers of the American delegation
In the conference are said 20 ia
vor the treaty method and the
point is yet to he decided; but
II was asserted In authoritative
quarters tonight that so far ms
Mr.. Harding was concerned he
would as soon have a nations
word ms its bond.
This position the President Is said
10 take is based upon faith that the
Washington conference will help to
put a new face upon international re-
and arouse a new sense
of national honor Agreements such
as the conference is expected to reach
IS regarded by the chief executive as
closely national consideras
lions of uprightness and good will,
and resting. therefore, upon the good
faith Of the nations concerned.
International Commission
The hope of the President for .
of conference like the
present one became known recently;
representatives of the nine particle
sating nations are said to have vir-
.ually decided at their session today
% send an international commission
IF jurists to investigate Chinas ju-
iicial system and report next year
% the various foreign offices and dis
,ussions of other features of the far
eastern situation continued with q
indication that some sort II
International machinery would be
CONTINUED ON Psge Thirteen)