The Washington herald., 1921-11-27
HARDING LEAGUE
PROPOSAL ROUSES
WIDE DISCUSSION
British Officials Raise
Point of Whether Sem
ate Will Approve.

" - "
The suggestion from sdministra-
tion sources that as a result of the
present arms conference an associa-
ton of nations can reasonably be
expected was the subject Of ami
mated discussion in conference and
diplomatic circles yesterday. In gen.
eral IL is agreed that something Of
this sort is a necessity.
This conference. while IL Is agreed
that it will adopt a program sat
isfactory to all participants. will also
be compelled to leave many mat
tiers unsettled Only a start can
be made on a great many subjects
And while this conference was linn
tied to five nations on the naval sub
ject and 10 nine on the subjects
Of the Pacific and the Far East. its
conclusions will be submitted TO
many other powers should the wishes
of the chief delegates and President
Harding be carried out
Must widen Scope.
This will mean. officials in close
touch with the situation point out.
that the general scope Of the con-
ference idea must be widened. There
must be at least one additional con-
ference to which other nations NAV
be invited. officials say. And they
believe that the next logical step
will be TO make such a gathering
representative Of all of the nations
OF the world. However. II was care
fully pointed out in American cir
cies last night that it is rather early
to discuss this question.
The suggestion that an assOcia-
ton of nations may be the logical
outcome has been put forth. The
reactions here in Washington are
very favorable. But very littl. so
far has been heard from other capt.
tails. Until they reflect the views
of their officials il is very unlikely
that even tentative program for
the extension OF the conference scope
will be considered.
Harding and Hughes Confer.
Secretary Hughes was in confer
ence yesterday with President Hard
ing. He made a comprehensive re-
port of what has been accomplished
to date. But so far as could be
learned the question of action to
follow the final adjournment Of the
conference was not touched upon.
Members OF the other delegations
now here would not allow themselves
to be quoted on the subject 1t was
explained that il was too delicate
for any positive position to be taken.
There has been no suggestion Of
detail forthcoming as TO how the
various powers would be approached
to obtain their approval of what
this conference does. Then there Is
Of course the league of nations. which
was not accepted here in the United
States. The other powers are mem
bers Of it. And their representatives
here are interested in knowing wheth-
er there would be an arrangement
made for cooperation with il should
an association be formed or whether
it would be expected that the league
would be scrapped. as il is expected
many capital warships will be, and
the new association organized to take
its place.
Hope for Another Meeting.
Members of the japanese dekga-
tion were openly friendly to an
other meeting of the present con-
ference next year. They would like
to have all business that is un-
finished referred to IL and then
would be very glad TO have Japan
selected as the scene for the meet
ing. Until they receive official in
formation the Japanese delegates
cannot express any public opinion
but their spokesman made IL plain
yesterday that the delegation is
very much interested. And that
about represents the sentiment Of
other delegations who were seen.
Several members of the Italian
delegation declared that they were
convinced that the subject of land
armaments must be squarely met
within the next year or two. They
declared that they were hopeful
that this conference will go on
record as favoring taking up the
question at a subsequent date and
also as favoring participation in
the discussion of all of the Euro
pean nations now maintaining large
armies. Poland. Greater Greece and
France were mentioned as vitality
interested.
would Act Cautiously.
Former Senator George Suther-
land, chairman OF the American
advisory committee, made IL plain
lhAt Tue frcsioents pidus TOT me
establishment of an association of
nations still are more or less
nebulous.
The President" said Mr.. Suth-
erland. wants the plan to evolve
slowly in the light of experiences
as we go along. Such a method
would make for q sound organiza-
tion. II was originally thought by
Confused on Page Ttoo.