Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-11
s.. O.. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER H. 1921.

:. II hlDA L nv II
ply Bill, passed the senate by vote Of
"A to 0, and on June 20 passed the
house by q vote of $50 to 4. On July
10 the State Department announced
that the president had approached
Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan
on the question and within four days
all four powers had announced their
willingness to accept an invitation to
q Conference on the Limitation Of Ar
! maments. On Aug. IL Mr.. Harding
sent out his formal invitations, in
which Armistice Day NOV. 1D was
originally set for the first meeting.
Fundamentally and humanity, the
conference marks the revolt Of the
people of all the earth from the hor-
rors, wastes and burdens Of war and
preparedness for warfare.
Presidents Invitation.
The text of President Harding's for
NAL invitation to the Arms Conference,
as given out on Aug. II, was as fol-
| lows:
The president is deeply gratiied at
the cordial 'esponse to his suggestion
that there should be a conference on
the subject Of limitation of armaments,
in connection with which Pacific and
Far Eastern questions also should be
| discussed. -
Productive labor is staggering under
an economic burden too heavy to be
borne unless the present vast public
expenditures are greatly reduced, 1t
is idle to look for stability, or the as
surance of social justice, or the securi-
ty Of peace, while wasteful and unpro-
ductive outlays deprive effort of its
just reward and defeat the reasonable
expectation of progress.
The enormous disbursements in the
rivalries of armaments manifestly con-
stitute the greater part Of the encum-
brance upon enterprise and national
prosperity; and avoidable or eXtrava-
CANT expense Of this nature is not only
without economic justification but is a
constant menace to the peace Of the
world rather than an assurance Of its
preservation. Yet there would seem
to be no ground to expect the halting
of these increasing outlays unless the
powers most largely concerned find a
satisfactory basis for an agreement 10
effect their limitation.
The time is believed to be oppor-
tune for these powers to approach this
subject directly and in conference; and
while, in tho discussion of limitation
of armament, the question of naval
armament may naturally have first
place, it has been thought best not to
exclude questions pertaining to other
armament, to the end that all practic-
able measures Of relief may have ap-
propriate consideration. 1t may also
be found advisable TO formulate pro-
posals by which in the interest of hu-
manity the use of new agencies OF
warfare may be suitable controlled.
|
can be no final assurance Of the peace
of the world in the absence of the de-
sire for peace, and the prospect of re-
duced armamcnts is not a hopeful one
unless this desire finds expression in
practicable effort to remove causes ol
misunderstanding and to seek ground
T,N,. nrInplnInG
their application.
1t is the earnest wish of this gov.
crnment that through an interchange
of views with the facilities afforded by
! a conference, it may be possible to fine
Il solution of Pacific and Far Eastern
problems, of unquestioned importance
at this time; that is, such common un'
derstandings with respect to matter:
which have been and are Of interna.
tional concern as may serve to promote
enduring friendship among our peo'
pies.
1t is not the purpose Of this govern
ment to attempt to define the scope o.
the discussion in relation to Pacific
and Ear East, but rather to leave thi!
TO be the subject Of suggestions to bt
exchanged before the meeting of tho
conference, in the expectation that the
spirit Of friendship and a cordial ap'
probation Of the Importance of tht
elimination of sources of controversy
will govern the final decision.
According, in pursuance of the
proposal which has been made and il
the light of the gracious indication o
it's acceptance, the president invite!
the government of Great Britain 9TH
name is changed in other invitations
to participate in IL conference on tht
subject of limitation of armament, il
connection with which Pacific and Fa
Eastern questions will also be dis
cusscd. to be held in Washington OF
the 1lth day of November, 1921.