The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-13

privilege and responsibility that
! accept the honor you have con-
ferred.
Permit me to express the most
cordial appreciation of the as
surances of friendly cooperation,
which have been generously ex-
pressed by the representatives OF
all the invited governments. The
earnest desire and purpose. mani
tested in every step in the APP
proach to this meeting. that we
should meet the reasonable ex-
pectation OF a watching world by
effective action suited to the up
portunity Is the best augury for
the success of the conference.
The President invited the gov
ernments OF the British Empire,
France. Italy. and Japan to par
tieipate IN a conference on the
subject Of limitation of arma-
ment. in connection with which
Pacific and Far Eastern questions
would also be discussed. 1t would
have been most agreeable to the
President to have invited all the
powers TO take part in this con-
terence, but II was thought to be
N'AAS "hCh OlhcE COMMUNICATIONS
should yield to the practical re-
qulrements of the existing
exigency, and in this view the in
group known as the principal
allied and associated powers.
which, by reason OF the condi-
lions produced by the war. con-
troll In the main the armament OF
world fUNT To
limit armament lies within their
grasp.
Not for Embarrassment.
1t was recognized. however,
that the interests of other pow
ers In the Far East made 1t ap-
propriate in the discussion OF
Pacific and Far Eastern prob
lens. and, with the approval Of
the fiYe powers. an Invitation to
take part in the discussion Of
those questions has been extend
ed to Belgium, China. the Neither
lands, and Portugal
The inclusion of the propose,
for the discussion of Pacific and
Far Eastern questions was not
for the purpose OF embarrassing
or delaying an agreement for
NAOh vi OuI
rather to support that undertake
ing by availing ourselves of this
meeting to endeavor to reach
common understanding as to the
principles and policies to be fol-
lowed in the Far East and thus
greatly to diminish, and if pos
sible wholly to remove, discern
ible sources of controversy. 1t
is believed that by interchanges
Of views at this opportune time
the governments represented here
may find a basis of accord and
thus give expression to their de-
sire to assure enduring friend
ship.
Discussions Together.
In the public discussions which
have preceded the conference.
there have been apparently two
competing views: one. that the
consideration of armament should
await the result of the discus
sion Of Far Eastern questions.
and. another. that the latter dis
cussion should be postponed I'M
til an agreement for Limitation OF
armament has been reached. II
am unable to find sufficient rea-
son for adopting either of these
extreme views. I think that II
would be most unfortunate II we
should disappoint the hopes
which have attached to this
meeting by a postponement of
the consideration of the first sub
ject. The world looks to this
conference to relieve humanity
of the crushing burden created
by competition in armament. and
il Is the view OF the American
government that we should meet
that expectation without any I'M
necessary delay. 1t is therefore
proposed that the conference
should proceed at once to con-
slider the question of the limita-
ton OF armament.
This. however. does not mean
that we must postpone the ex-
animation Of Far Eastern ques-
tions. These questions of vast
Importance press for solution. II
is hoped that immediate provision
may be made to deal with them
adequately. and il is suggested
that il may be found to be en-
tireIF practicable through the
distribution Of the work among
designated committees to make
progress to the ends sought to
he achieved without either sub
ject being treated as a hindrance
20 the proper consideration anG
disposition of the other.
An Old Question.
The proposal to limit arma-
ment by an agreement Of the
powers is not a new one. and
We are admOnished by the futility
Of earlier efforts It may be well |
to recall the noble aspirations
which were voiced twenty-three
years ago in the imperial re-
script Of His Majesty the En- |
peror Of Russia II was then
pointed out with clarity and en-
phasis that The intellectual and !
physical strength of the nations.
labor, and capital are for the
major part diverted from their
natural application and unpro-
ductiyely consumed Hundreds
Of millions are devoted to Ar
curing terrible engines Of de-
structfon- which. though TODAY
regarded as the last word Of
science. are destined tomorrow to
lose all value in consequence Of
some fresh discovery in the same
field National culture. economic