Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-13
COOLIDGE PRAISES
| ARMS PARLEY AIMS
Vice President Tells Of Ship
Scrapping Plan in Ad-
dress at Forum
SEES LASTING SUCCESS

ing 70 Vice President Calvin Coolidge.
He spoke before the Philadelphia Forum
ut the Academy of Music in the sec
ond of series of addresses last night.
. Not only this, according to Mr..
Coolidge, but a highly important de-
velopment of the Conference has been
the suggestion that it's meetings might
be continued that the nations might
well take counsel together from time TO
time for their mutual welfare.
"It will be noticed said Mr.
Coolidge, that the United States pro-
poses to destroy almost as much tonnage
as the British Empire and japan to-
gether. Under the principle here laid
down. the need for national defense IS
recognized, but all competition is clim-
mated; each nation is to stop precisely
where il now is.
Discussing the economic situation, he
said: People are wondering why there
Is not return to the old prices or
commodities, now that the pressure OF
the great conflict is removed. One of
the main reasons il the high cost Of
government. Tho consumer docs nor
pay simply the added cost Of the taX
paid by the producer; he pays it sew
eral times over, with an added allow
ance for profit. as the merchandise he
purchases goes from the raw product
through the various hands before it
reaches the consumer"
Mayor Ppsides
Mayor Moore presided end presented
the Vice President. Mr.. Coolidge was
heartily received. His audience filed
the orchestra and lower boxes and the
hrst balcony was well filed.
Mr.. Coolidge pointed our that IN
order TO appreciate the progress made at
the Arms Conference it is necessary to
keep in mind three exact proposals. In
this connection he said:
'lt cannot be too clearly understood
that the purpose is not disarmament
but the limitation of armameutS. All
competition IN the building Of nayies
Is to be hereafter outlawed. To the In
quiry of where the competition is 20
stop, Secretary Hughes takes the per-,
fectly unassailable position that it shall
stop where It Is.
This plan is to be carried into Of
feet by the scrapptng on the part Of the
United States Of thirty capital ships,
built and building. Of al aggregate of
S45, ,740 tons; by the srrapn}ng on the
part of the British Empire Of nine
teen capital ships. built and building,
of an aggregate Of 5N2 80 tons. and the
scrapping on the part Of Japan Of sew
enteen capital ships, built and building.
of an aggregate Of AS, ,92S tons.
This provides for the destruction of
capital ships built and building of a
total OF l,S!S,O43 tons. When this is
completed the capital ships OF the
United States will be eighteen. Of the
British Empire twenty two and OF
Japan ten. This will leave the United
States with 5O0.65O tons; the British
Empire with 604, ,450 tons; Japan,
900. 700.
at will be noticed that the United
States proposes to destroy almost as
much tonnage as the British Empire
and Japan together. The reason for
this is that the United States has under
construction fifteen new ships of a total
of $4,000 tons on which it has cx-
pended the enormous sum of S332 900, =
600. This building program is very
much larger than that of the other two
Powers. There are further proposals
relative 10 auxiliary craft and eubma-
rines. No limitation of aircraft is pro-
posed.
Sessions Reviewed
Mr.. Coolidge reviewed the sessions
of the Conference, commenting upon the
addresses delivered ar each by the dipo-
nats of the various nations.
"The significance of this third Dlen-
airy session. he said. lies in the
general agreement that appeared to per-
wade II. that n naval limitation was
no longer questioned, that it was be-
heved a land limitation could be sp-
cured. Taken together these mark
great progress and amount to virtual
certainty of limitation agreement.
''All of this has not been accom-
plished without many reports and false
rumors. sometimes Of such nature
as TO require official denial. One Of
these was that there was serious dis
agreement between Secretary Hughes
and Mr.. BalfOur. Both these gentle
men promptly and publicly laid this re-
port at rest. Another rumOr which WAS
current declared that Mr.. BRAND had
referred disparagingly to the Italian
Army in the presence Of Mr.. Schanzer.
Gan Of this shows that if there is a
desire on the part of some. whose in
terests cannot be understood. 70 pro-
mote discard among the delegates at
the Conference or their people at home
such efforts have not met with success
but have rather emphasized the strength
of their determination TO agree and the
increasing accomplishment Of that pur-
pose.
''It has developed that consideration
of Pacific and Far Eastern questions
relates mostly to China.
''No formal statement hns Yet beer,
made concerning the attitude of tLe
Conference regarding most Of these
Chinese proposals. 1t is, however. safe
TO assume that no country is in China
because II wants to be there. The
French have expressed willingness ~
withdraw il others did likewise. The
Japanese have given assurances that
they are willing TO give up all Of their
rights in the Province OF Shantung. ex-
cept some 30 miles Of railroad and
one or two coal and iron mines. What
foreign Powers want is an assurance
that peace and order can be maintained
on their withdrawal, that there may be
kept in force the policy of the open
door, so that each nation will have
equal opportunity in all parts Of China.
instead OF having special opportunities
within certain spheres Of influence.
"A highly important development
of the Conference has been a sugges-
tion of President Harding that its
meetings might be continued; that
rom time to time II might rraSsem-
lie in order TO take counsel together
or mutual welfare. The hope has
cen expressed that within such a gath
ring of the nations there would be
ound place for Germany wherein
he might re establish herself Some
ave been alarmed at this suggestion,
earring that our country might become
involved in the affairs Of other coun-
tries 10 our own detriment,'
A. -