Evening star., 1921-11-12

and the entire American delegation
took their seats at 1925 o'clock.
A momentary hush fell upon the as
semblage after the applause greeting
the entrance Of the American delega-
ton, and then the storm Of converSa-
ton broke loose again.
Secretary Hughes sat in the center
Of the table. and with white slab Of
marble and a small gavel in front of
him. At his right, in order. were Sem
ator Lodge. Elihu Root and Senator
Underwood. On the Secretary's left
WAS Lord Balfour, head of the British
delegation. Ten-thirty. the official hour
Of opening the conference, passed with
some of the delegations still absent.
MIR. Hughes watched the clock and the
confusion around the doorway.
Cheered BY Audience.
The audience rose and cheered as
Mrs. Harding took her place at the
front Of the box where the Vice Pres
ident sat The President came in at
1898 o'clock, and Immediately Secre-
tary Hughes called the conference to
order.
Prayer was offered by the Presi-
dents pastor. Rev. w. S. Abernethy
IL.
! ed as follows:
Almighty God, we thank Thee for
the coming OF this eventful day. We
have seen it from afar, and now we
rejoice that 1t has at last dawned.
| May it bring untold blessing to a
One. today. as in other days, we be-
lieve that Thou dost guide in human
affaira Thou hast made of one blood
all nations that dwell upon the earth,
and, though we are OF many races and
| many tongues. yet the interests of the
few are the interests of the larger
humber. May we feel assured that the
welfare and happiness and prosperity
| of the human family are ineXpressibly
dear to Thy heart. We pray for clear
vision, or We shall grope blindly for
the light and lose our way. We pray
for hearts lovingly sympathetic to
human distress wherever it may ex-
| ist, or We shall sink into the depths
OF a miserable selfishness. We pray
| for minds willing to believe that the
! strong ought to bear the infirmities
| Of the weak. or We shall miss the
great Joy of service. We pray for
the forward look or we shall be over
! whelmed in hopeless pessimism. Give
| US the ability to think clearly. to
judge fairly, to act wisely. Help us
| to think less often of our rights and
more often of our duties and respon-
sibiljties: s
| a world in sore need. Thou art not
| unmindful of the sufferings of Thy
people. The cries Of multitudes of
widows and orphans have come up
before Thee. o God. We have had
our terrible baptism of blood. There
is hunger and pestilence and unutter-
able anguish. God forbid that the
woes Of these years should ever again
be visited upon the earth. Can it be
that Thou hast permitted us thus to
suffer in order that we might turn
from our own devices to Thee and
acknowledge Thee as King of our
| lives and our destinies? Out Of the
depths we cry unto Thee-save us or
we perish.
MAY we walk softly and humbly
before Thee, this day, and throughout
the fateful days of this great con-
ference. May we be intent on know
ing Thy will; and knowing it. may
we have the courage to do it. And
may 1t not be that the findings of this
conference shall be so wise, so far
! reaching and SO beneficial, that all
! mankind may take new hope and
fresh courage. And to Thee shall be
| the praise and the glory. forever and
ever. Amen"
President Speaks.
Immediately at the conclusion of
the prayer President Harding rose
and began delivery CT his address.
The President had stood during the
prayer with bowed head between Mr..
Hughes and the pastor. At the con-
clusion OF the prayer Secretary
Hughes stepped forward and, lifting
his hands, said:
=
States''
There was an outburst Of applause
and then intense silence as the Presi-
dent began speaking.
Mr.. Harding read his speech slowly
and deliberately from small printed
Of his left hand. with his right he
punctuated his statements with driv-
ing gestures. The first applause came
when the President declared that the
conference must have a signal in
fluence" on the fortunes Of the world.
Harding asked how civilization ever
could justify the destruction of the
| last great war. Still again he was
answered by loud clapping when he
said war should be "outlawed" and
into constructive channels.
Keynote Of Conference.
There was the tensest silence as the
President pronounced the keynote
of the conference as follows:
'The United States welcomes you
with unselfish hands. We harbor nc
fears; we have no sordid ends to
serve: we suspect no enemy; we con-
template or apprehend no conquest
Content with what we have, we seek
nothing that IS another's. We only
wish to do with you that finer,
| nobler thing which no nation can dc
alone. We wish to sit with you at the
table OF international understanding
and good will. In good conscience We
are eager to meet you frankly, and
invite and offer cooperation. The
| world demands q sober contemplation
Of the existing order and the realiza-
tion that there can be no cure with
out sacrifice. not by one Of us. but all
rights, or narrowed freedom or de-
MED aspirations, or ignored national
necessities. Our republic would no
more ask for these than 1t would
| give No pride need be humbled. no
nationality submerged. but I would
have a mergence Of minds commit
ting all Of us to less preparation for
war and more enjoyment of fortu-
nate peace"
The delegates at the main table fol-
lowed the reading line by line, from
copies they had. The audience and
some Of the delegations came to their
feet applauding when Mr.. Harding
declared America wanted less OF
armament and none of war" and
wanted 10 work to that end.
The President concluded at 1858
There was a minute Of applause
when the President concluded. The
demonstration was ended only BY MI
Hardings departure from the hall.