Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-24
PACIFIC TREATY
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l. 11Ox4 ~ L 4t1|&X i
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asserted that the pact contemplated
mo alliance or ENLARGEMENT 1t
is in full accord. he said, with cher
ished American traditions.
The President asked that "unim-
portant" controversies as to inter-
probation should not be permitted to
obscure the major purpose of the
treaty, which he said was to preserve
peace and to provide for means of
consultation when peace is threaten
ed.
The Presidents statement, which
was delivered orally and then form
ally given out. follows:
1.-The President will offer no COM
ment on the disputes which attempt
to magnify the differing constructions
on the four power treaty. To him
these are unimportant. The big
things aimed at are understandings
for peace and an agreement to meet
and discuss the preservation OF peace
whenever it is threatened.
mo alliance or ENHANCEMENT is
thought of, none will be negotiated.
1t would be better to rejoice over
things accomplished than to dwell on
differing views which can be OF no
great consequence.
"The President is unwilling that
the uniustified charge that the Unit
ed States delegates are Withholding
information shall go unchallenged.
He had full confidence, else he had
not chosen them. and he has full con-
fidence now and is more than graft
fed over their efforts, because they
are working out the greatest contri-
button to peace and good will which
has ever marked the Christmas time
in all the Christian era.
at is something to talk about the
ideals of peace, but the bigger thing
is to seek the actually. This the con-
ference is doing, in harmony with an
overwhelming American sentiment,
and a world sentiment. too, and i'll
full accord with cherished American
traditions
Replying to the question DO you
feel that the world has made great
progress in the direction of peace and
good will?" President Harding said:
II think l made some such reply to
similar question at the last inter
view. ! do think so. believe it with
all my heart. :. do not say that with
the thought of arrogating to the Unit
ed States Of America any greater part
of the contribution than that which
has been made by other nations of like
Importance and like civilization. But
it seems to me that in 1921 as we
have come to know more fully the
aftermath of the war, we have come
to appraise the unspeakable cost of II
all there is new conviction in TIE
hearts of men that that sort of appeal
the appeal to arms-to settle the
international questions is a futile
thing, and that we are unworthy of
our position and unworthy Of the
blessings which fall to a righteous CIV
ilization if we do not find some means
for righteous adjustment without APP
peal to slaughter and waste and all
the distresseS that attend. l think
that conviction has rooted itself
throughout the world and there must
come some helpful. progressive ex-
sion is being given at this confer
encc. 1 have no thought to preach on
this subject today but make your own
applications, please.
when men sit about the conference
table and look each other in the fact
and look upon the problems deliberate
~, without passion, they find the way
TO come to an agreement. And after
all, there has never been q conflict In
the world that has not been settled
in the end in that way. You have i
war; you destroy thousands of mill
lions OF men and mcasurelesS treasure
end then you gather about table ana
settle it. I have a feeling that man
kind has become wise enough to sit
down before the war and try to settle
it, And that is the object of the four
party treaty. That is why say the
small lack of agreement in constituting
it is not significant.
why, if there was a menace IF
peace in Japan, what objecticr could
there be for the United States to Sit
down with her friend in the Orient.
and with the other great powers, and
discuss how the matter could be ad-
justed? If someone had done that
when Austria was threatening Servia,
there would have been no European
war The whole purpose of this con-
ference is to provide some means
where just, thoughtful. righteous peo-
pies. who are not seeking to seize
something which does not belong to
them, can live peacefully together ard
eliminate causes of conflict. This is
in the American heart and it is in the
British heart and it is in the Jap
ancse heart. in the French heart, III
the Italian heart--it is ever where in
the world. If this present day civil
ization cannot take advantage of this
new realization. of that emphaxized
conviction, l would not give much for
the civilization Of the future. But there
is new spirit seeking and impelling
peace. and it must add to our Christ
mas happiness"