The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-12

For the first time in the worlds history the great Powers have ,recog-
 nized the need for concrete action to limit the size of armies and nav1es, the need for stopping the competitive arming that many international ob- servers have predicted is heading
 the world straight for another war
 that would eclipse the late war 1u
 savagery and destructiveness-
 Worlds Greatest Conference The gathering here today is com parable only to the great gathering at Paris two years ago-and even
 there the comparison falls short For the conference at Paris was to inn
 pose the terms of peace that ended
 great war, while here today the statesmen are meeting before the
 great war begins to attempt to avert war by removing the causes there for.
 Nine nations will participate in that part of the conference which is con cerned with the removal of friction
 Britain, the United States, Japan. Italy, France, China, Belgiunn, Hol- l land and Portugal. All have inter, | ests in the Far East that conflict; all | have causes of irritation, and all nave professed a desire to eradicate these potential causes of war.
 Five nations only-Great Britain,
 the United States, Japan, France ana | the conference which is concerned
 with Mn1ittion of armament The
 four smaller Powers-China, Belgium, Holland and Portuga1-have neither armies nor navies nor wealth Of sui hcient importance to constitute
 menace to the peace of the world. Continental Hall. Washington, Nov. 12-In a terse business-hke speech; | stripped of all diplomatic verb1age ana Diceties of international expression, President Harding officially opened
 the 1nornentous armament conference | here this morning with orle1 outhne 1 of Americas position-Ctean hanos' | honest intentions and high hopes. | "Gent1emen of the conference" said ] inc President, ''The United States
 welcomes you with unself1sh hands.
 We harbor no fears; we have no sor- did ends; we suspect no enemy; we contemplate no conquest. Content | with what we have, we seek noth1ns | which is another's; we only wish. to
 do with you that finer, nooler thihs l which no nation can do alone The President spoke from the head | of the great U shaped table, around l which sat in rapt attention the states l men of Europe and Asia. To the rlght
 of him sat France and Japan; 1o '.ae ne i the far end of the horseshoe were the | representatives of China, Belslun, 1 Holland and Portugal. On either sloe
 at the head of the table were Aneri. l ca's delegates. The galleries apoVe 1 were crowded with the entire mem bershipa of House and Senate. mem | hers of the cabinet, justices Of the | supreme court and diplomats.
 .I can speak officially only for our | Jrnited States" continued the Presl- 1 dent. Our hundred millions frank. | ly want less of armament ana none oI W l war. Wholly free from guile, sure In | our minds that we harbor no un- l worthy designs, we accredit the world | with the same intent,
 The President voiced both hope l and a warming in his brief address l . hone that out of this conference may come international peace and a l hetfer understanding among nations | and a warning that these things can | not be accomplished by the secret | intrigues that has defeated the aims | t"This Is not to be done in intrigue, | he said earnestly, greater assurance | Is found in exchanges Of simple hoh- l esty and dfrectness."
 | The possibilities of this conference | the President pointed out are enor- l mons. The world Is crying for a | clearer understanding that may pre- 1 vent it's being again set atiame bS | war. And out of this gathering, the | president voiced the hope would come
 these very things,
 perhaps never before in the worlds
 history has there been barley of the
 worlds leading statesmen with SC little ostentation and show so little
 fIowerv expression and trapp1ngS oi
 grandeur and rank,
 l The worlds foremost statesmen sat l around the green covered table 1T
 much the same manner that a board 1 of directors would sit around table (Continued on Page Four.)