New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-14
Lloyd George Suggestion
That Near East Issues
BE Discussed in Lon
don Not Popular Here
Harding Will Not
Separate Problems
Plan Proposes Free Dis
cussion and Unanimous
Action ON All Points

From The Tr;bume's Woshinqton B,,renu
WASHINGTON, July 13.-With def
mite acceptances from Great Britain,
France and Italy already received, and
assurances that favorable response
from the Chinese government would
soon be dispatched, the Harding pro-
gram for conference on disarmament
and settlement of Far Eastern ques-
tions awaited only the reply from the
Japanese government to-day.
While no intimation has been re-
celved from the Toxic Foreign Office
as 10 Japan's decision on President
Hardlng's informal invitation to meet
with the other powers in Washington,
responsible officials were optimistic
that Japan eventually would elect to
participate in the parleys.
The delay in hearing from Toxic is
not taken as an evidence of any in
clination on the part of the Nippon
government to reject the proposal of
the President, but may only be due to
interrupted cable communications be-
tween Toxic and Washington, or the
necessity of discussion among Off
Gals. Officials here were not disturbed
at the apparent delay, but, on the con-
trary, displayed the greater confidence
that representatives of the five great
powers would gather in Washington
this fall to consider and amicably settle
all the questions arising out of the Far
Eastern situation, and then take up
with a view to decisive action the larger
question of world disarmament.
British Suggestion Considered
The President and Secretary Hughes
conferred briefly this morning on the
developments thus far in Mr. Harding's
program for the conference. The sug-
gestion from Great Britain that pre-
liminary conference on Far Eastern
questions be held in London in order
that the premiers of the British col
onies might agree on these important
questions is understood to have been
taken up at the White House con-
ference. Later it became known that
this government will not look with
plates separation of the Pacific prob
lens from the discussion of limitation
of armaments.
The Presidents informal invitation
to the governments of Great Britain,
France, Japan, Italy and China, it was
recalled, specifically designated Wash
ington as the conference city and the
responses thus far received have indi-
Gated that the powers realized the de-
sire of this government that the parleys
be held here. Washington was described
as providing the ideal place for the
meeting of the distinguished group of
foreign officials, and the point was made
that American public opinion most
cordially approved the Presidents idea
Of having the sessions of the conference
held in this city.
Open Discussion Sought
The effect of American public opin-
ion upon the visiting delegates is an
other consideration that has not been
lost sight of by President Harding in
inviting the conference to be held
here. It was disclosed to-day that
not be public, means will be provided
for free discussion of the problems that
come UP for consideration by the
powers, and all interested nations will
be kept informed on the progress made
By the associated nations.
The question of permitting other
nations than the five Allied and associ-
ated powers and China to participate
in the conference has been considered
by the American government, and
while no definite recision can be an
nOunced at this time, 1t may we'll be
that any nation that can show it has
interests in the Far Eastern question
will he given every opportunity to be
heard and consulted on the problems
involved.
In order that the program of the
conference might not be delayed, how
ever, it was decided to confine the
invitations to the principal powers in
volved, and their task will be to work
out a settlement which will not include
any stipulation that would deprive
other nations of any rights they may
be entitled to.
Action TO Be Unanimous
Every action taken by the conference
must be by unanimous agreement, it
was disclosed to-day Each of the dele
cations present will represent an en-
tity, and complete agreement on any oe
the disputed points must first be de-
cided upon before decision is reached.
There will be no opportunity in the
conference for any group of delegates
to endeavor to gain point to the dis
advantage of any other nation, and the
rights of each will be safeguarded in
every respect.
After the receipt of the acceptance
from Japan it is not unlikely that in
formal conversations will ensue among
the various governments on the
program of the conference 1t is the
American view that the Pacific prob
lens must first be amicably settled be-
n,isd or