The New York herald., 1921-07-30
j. FOR FRANKNESS
IN arms CONFERENCE
Harding Opposes Prelimi-
nary Conference to Avoid
Suspicion of Secrecy.
WOULD ALLAY DOUBTS
No Attempt to Isolate Japan
or to Dictate Any Far East
ern Settlement.
FAvoRs ARMIsTICE DAY
Hughes and Lodge or Knox
Likely to Be Named as U. s.
Members.
FAvoRs ARMIsTICE DAY

opec1os Oespdtch to THE NEW YORK AERALp
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., July 90.
President Harding and Secretary of
State Hughes are determined to avoid
any situation which might give rise
even to a suspicion that the United
States or any of the participating ma
tions is acting unfairly or entering
into secret agreements or understand
ings in connection with the coming
international conference on disarna-
ment and Far Eastern problems.
That is the main reason why the
United States is opposed to any sort
Of a preliminary conference on Far
Eastern questions either in London.
Canada or the United States
With unusual frankness the attitude
of the State Department toward the
oft repeated unofficial suggestions
from London for a preliminary confer
ence on Far Eastern questions was
set forth to-day. 1t is desired that the
mistakes made at the Versailles peace
conference be scrupulously avoided,
and the Administration believes the
air OF secrecy at that conference and
the private understandings between
different nations which affected its
deliberations were the greatest mis-
takes made there.
Armistice Day Favored.
President Harding thinks that when
a date has been fixed for the conference
agreeable to all the invited nations. no
discussion of the important questions
involved should take place until official
representatives of the nations meet
around the council table .n pursuance
Of the formal invitation soon to be
issued.
The Administration is in sympathy
with the desire Of the British Dominion
Premiers to participate in the delibera-
tions and will gladly agree to date
convenient to everybody provided 1t is
not set too far in the future. President
Harding made 1t known again to-day
that Arndstice Day. November II. Is
still his favorite date, but thatit might
be earlier or little later If the other
nations thought best.
At the State Department 1t was ir-
timated that II the latest British un-
official suggestion should be adopted and
a preliminary conference be held In
Canada or the United States in order
that the British Dominion Premiers
might attend on their way back from
London to their own capitals. 1t might
be impossible for Japan to have what
she would regard as proper representa-
tion at such a meeting. 1t is not i'm
rr0ha hIn n hat
picion might arise that the United
States and the British Empire were try
ing to reach a preliminary understand
Ing that would place Japan at a dis
advantage. although nothing of the sort
was intended.
Already there are coming from Toxic
unofficial reports that the Japanese Gov
ernment is afraid Of an attempt being
made to isolate japan at the conference
and to reach Pacific and Far Eastern
settlement that would virtually amount
to debating terms to her. President
Harding and Secretary Hughes feel
strongly that the only hope of success
for the conference Is that such feeling
on the part OF Japan be dispelled
For Open Conferences.
The London suggestions for a pre-
lin1inary conference aroused more than
the usual interest here to-day. Several
theories were advanced. One is that
Great Britain wants to get together In
advance with the United States in order
to arrange matters so she can steer a
middle course at the conference, appear-
ing as the friend both OF the United
States and Of Japan. There Is another
theory that Japan herself is behind the
suggestion for the preliminary confer
ence and that she hopes to agree with
the United States and Great Britain on
q plan to exclude from the deliberations
certain questions which she particularly
wishes to avoid, such as her relations
with China. but. whatever may be the
reasons for the London suggestions, the
United States is not in sympathy with
them.
Everything connected with the con-
ference. no matter how trivial It may
appear to the layman. will be conducted
IN the open II the plans Of the Harding
Administration are carried out That
does not necessarily mean that the dis
cussions of the conference will be open
to the public, although 1t is likely some
OF them will be open to the newspaper
correspondents. but It means that every
participating nation will know at all
times what every other participating
nation Is doing at the conference.
Frankness M to Agenda.
The same frankness will be main
tanned by the United States in the pre-
liminary negotiations with the particle
pating nations over the agenda or pro-
gramme of topics for discussion at the
conference. An effort will be made to
reach common understanding. and the
United States believes that whatever
IDEAS any nation may wish to advance
regarding the agenda should be ad-
vanced In the open and be discussed
freely by all concerned.
1t became known at the White House
this afternoon that President Harding
already has In mind the names OF at
least two men whom he will appoint on
the American delegation and that he
will announce them soon. One Is cer-
tain to be Secretary Of State Hughes
and the other is probably a member OF
the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee, probably Senator Lodge (Mass.) or
Senator Knox tPenna).
The President has before him petit
tons from several women's organisa-
tions suggesting that he name a woman
member on the American delegation.
He Is giving this matter serious atten-
Various cities In the United States
have sent word to the President offer
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