Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-11

ent, IN the following statement:
part in conference on this subject
| to be held in Washington at a time to
be mutually agreed on. If the pro-
| posal is found to be acceptable, formal
invitations for such conference will
/ be issued
China Also Invited.
1T is manifest that the question OF
limitation of ornaments has close
relation to Pacific and Far Eastern
problems, and the president has sug-
gested that the powers especially in
terested in these problems should
undertake in connection with this con-
ference, the consideration of all mat
ters bearing upon their solution, with
view to reaching common under
standing with respect to principles and
policy in the far east. This has been
communicated to the powers concern
ed and China has also been invited to
| take part in the discussion relating to
far eastern problems"
Inc departments statement was
made public without comment and the
fact that the president had suggested
to the interested nations a joint dis
cussion of the Far Eastern and Pacific
problems came as something of q sur
prise in Washington.
Poiat Not Clear.
The departments statement did not
make clear what nations had been ap-
preached on these particular subjects,
but aside from China, which was spe-
Great Britain and Japan were among
them.
Renewal of the Anglo Japanese ali
oy se.o c,,k
Japanese governments. but whether
this is considered by Mr.. Harding as
within the scope of the proposed con-
ference on Pacific sand Far Eastern
problems has not been disclosed. Mr..
Lloyd George. the British premier. an
nounced recently in the house Of COM
mons that he expected to have a state
ment to make with regard to the ALI
ance. but this was dependent upon the
replies from the United States, Japan
and China
Mr.. Harding's move with regard to
limitation of armament was described
by some of his advisers as the second
step in the working out of his inter
national program. adoption Of the
peace resolution having been the first.
Goes Step Further.
Before the resolution was nut
through congress he sent ont informal
feelers' on the subject Of disarma-
ment. He now has gone a step further
in the development Of this program.
Proposals for Z conference on world
disarmament were made in congress
several months ago. and q resolution
by Senator Borah. Republican. Idaho.
asking the president to invite Great
Britain and Japan to confer with the
United States on the question of limit
ing naval construction has been made
a part Of the naval appropriation bill
and accepted both by the senate and
house.
The president. however, apparently
has gone much further than the sugges-
tion in the Borah resolution. His In
quiries have been addressed to France,
and Italy as well. and there il nothing
in the state department announcement
to suggest that the limitation Of a9ma-
mems be confined solely to naval con-
struction.
Doubt French Attitude.
When the disarmament question Wa
discussed in congress. various propos-
ais were made that any conferences on
this subject contemplate a reduction Of
senator's and representatives opposed
including France and italy ON the
ground that France could not be ex-
pected in the then state Of affairs in
Europe, to consent to any material re-
duction of it's land forces.
So far as has been made known,
President Harding offered no objection
to the adoption by conGress 0f the
Borah resolution, but some cf those
close to the president opposed the
measure on the ground that II would
limit the conferences to three powers
and also to the subject of naval dis
armament.
Senator Borah said that he prefer
red to withhold comment On thA state
announcement until he had
had an opportunity to study It.
LONDON CONSIDERS NEWS
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
= London, July 10.-B By The Associat-
ed Press. THE American embassy in
London Sunday night issued for puhli-
cation President Harding's statement