Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-10-14
U. S. ENJOYS Iiold Conference to
Map Out Program.
PRESIDENT GIVES HIS VIEWS
Harding in Letter to Brooklyn
Woman Says Absolute Disarma-
ment Is Impossible and Prob
ably Not Desirable.

i luS mere VI the -FOUR delegates selected
by President Harding to speak for
the United States.
Diplomatic, military and naval data
/ OF specific nature already had been
compiled for the guidance of the dele
/ cations, but the real task of fitting the
whole mass of information together
and building upon it a constructive
/ program remained to be done by the
delegates themselves in the long series
Of meetings that will precede the open
ing of the conference on November IL.
Hughes Calls Meeting.
The first meeting was designed to do
no more than scratch the surface of
the problem ahead of the American
representatives. 1t was called by Sec
rotary Hughes, head of the delegation,
to permit of a preliminary survey of
the situation and of a general outline
Of the things to be done.
President Harding had communicate
ed his ideas through Mr.. Hughes, and
memoranda were available covering
various points of technical information,
but personal interviews with the Pres
ident and with military and naval
experts were part of the delegations
plan during its period of preparation.
Harding Gives Views.
Some hint of the Presidents hopes
for the armament conference were Civ
en- as the delegates were assembling,
by publication of a letter the Presi-
dent had written in reply to a prayer
that he work for universal disarma-
ment."
Absolute disarmament, Mr.. Harding
wrote, was beyond hope of realiza-
ton" and perhaps not very desirable,
but "a reasonable limitation" of arma-
ment was practical proposition, with
some hope of accomplishment.
Similar sentiments have been ex-
pressed generally by military and nav
authorities, whom have concerned
themselves with preparation of the
data that was before the meeting.
The letter in which President Har-
ding outlined his idea for reasonable
limitation" was made public at the
White House, as expressing the execu-
tive's attitude toward the views of all
those who have written him to work
for complete disarmament.
Harding's Letter.
The letter was addressed to Miss Ell
la L. Freed, Brooklyn, n. Y, and was
us follows:
MY dear Miss Freed
"Your letters, among others that
come to me, suggest a widespread mis-
apprehension az to the aims OF the con-
ference on limitation of ornaments.
In my letter of Oct 5, said to you:
~ think ought to correct your
impression about the expectation of
universal disarmament. 1t is very
erroneous to suggest that we contem-
plate going as far as that. If we can
get a reasonable limitation we shall
think that great things have been ac-
complished.
Letter Is Disappointment.
You replied that my letter seemed
to bring a message of hopelessness to
those seeking universal disarmament,
and asked me to explain reasonable
limitation.
"By reasonable limitation, mean
something practicable that there is a
chance to accomplish, rather than an
ideal that there would be no chance to
realize. 1t is necessary to deal with
actualities; TO do the best possible.
Universal disarmament would be be.
You'd hope of realization; even its de-
STABILITY az this time might well be
questioned.
Thousands Of years of history re-
cording the wars and controversies of
mankind. suggest that human nature
would require revolutionary reorgan.
iztaion TO make universal disarmament
possible. A consideration of the pres
ent state of the world must. l think,
enforce the conclusion that this is not
a hopeful time to undertake that kind
of revolution.
Nations Encourage idea.
"On the other hand. world with
the horrors of recent experiences
scared into its mind, and staggering
under the load Of debt and arma.
ments. has generously justified our
hope for favorable attitude toward
the practical effort, the sincere begin
ming, that we are attempting.
'The fine spirit in which leading ma
tions have received the invitation to
meet aud consider these things. is al
together encouraging, TO undertake
the mIosSible and fail, might leave
our last state worse than our first
The attitude of the nations warrants
confidence that we win not fail, but
rather that substantial results will be
accomplished, calculated to lessen the
armament burden, and to reduce the
danger of armed conflict. feel that
in such an effort, we are entitled TO
the support of all the people who
would be glad-as / can assure you I
would--to see still more accomplished
! If possible.
. Ill