The Washington herald., 1921-10-12
First Conference Will Be
Held at Secretary
Hughes Office.
HOPE FOR TAX CUT
AND LESS FRICTION
American Officials Would
Make These Objects
Attainable.

The preliminaries of the Wash
inEton conference on the limitation
or armament will be set in mo-
tlon today, when the American
e. delegation will hold its first meet
ing at Secretary Hughes Office ITO
consider questions of policy and
procedure
Upon President Harding and the
american MISUNDERSTANDING OF
State Hughes. Elihu Root and Sena-
tors Lodge and Underwood-de-
wolves the responsibility OF leader
snip in this great international
gathering. and there will be an
early meeting between the Execu-
tie and the delegation to discuss
the policy to be pursued in guiding
the deliberations to a successful
conclusion Also to be discussed
with the President is the compost
tion of the advisory commission
which will include representatives
of the army and navy. and au-
thorfties on international law and
Far Eastern questions.
No UIterior Motives.
We have no ulterior motives and
when the conference meets the
other nations will find our cards
on the table face up" said one Of
the highest officials OF the govern
ment yesterday. I'VE believe that IL
ought to be possible to reach an
agreement to limit armament, the
cost of which Is becoming a grfev-
ous burden for peoples TO bear,
ana TO remove causes OF interna-
uonal friction and misunderstand-
ing which stand In the way of an
agreement on the reduction of arma-
rnent- Whether the objects are ac-
tually attafnable remains to be seen,
but In any event, we purpose TO
anord the assembled nations a free
and unfettersd opportunity to reach
the end desired"
President Harding views the con-
ference as an effort to prevent the
natural and cpnmepdahIe rfyalry
between the divers races bordering
the Pscfnc from reaching the stage
Of armed conflict
The Presidents Words.
His conception. which he incor-
porated in his address TO the Press
follows:
I'VE have heard much in recent
years about the problem Of the Pacific,
whatever that may be. take II to
be merely q phase of the universal
problem Of the race, Of men and
nations wherever they are. II Is hard
to imagine tustihcations in this day
and age. especially in view Of the
worlds late unhappy experiences. for
armed conflict among civilized peoples
anywhere and especially among peo-
Piles so widely separated as those on
opposite borders Of the Pacific. They
represent different races, social or
ganizations, political systems and
modes OF thought.
Between them and their widely
varying systems there may well be an
amicable competition to determine
which community possesses the better
and more effective ideas for human
advancement But that there should
be conflict: that warfare and con-
troversy should interfere with this
worthwhile demonstration of the
value OF different modes Of progress.
Is almost unthinkable. The Pacific
ought to be the seat OF a generous.
free. open-minded competition between
the best ideals of eastern and west
ern life between the aspirations and
eDdeavors OF the oldest ana the newest
forms of human society"
Data Already Prepared.
The American delegation will begin
study Of a large volume OF data on
the limitation Of armament and Pacific
and Far Eastern questions prepared
bv the State. War and Navy Depart
ments-
proceeding on the basis that the
I-rited states will not halt navy build
ing >scept in agreement with other
naval powers, the navy general board
has worked out several alternative
nlans Of the limitation of construction.
The one most generally favored by
the naval authorities is a pro-rata
limitation. Under this plan the British
navy would be ranked first in strength.
the American second and the Jap
snesa third. Each of these nations
wouId be obligated not to increase its
natal strength beyond its present
stains in a certain designated future
lar Each nation would be allowed
40 many dreadnaughts, so many
crpisers. so many destroyers, so many
H.