Evening star., 1921-11-26
DELEGATES SHOW
: KEEN INTEREST IN
HARDING PROPOSAL
Some Favor World Assocla-
ton, But All Await Further
Details.
SUCCESS OF CONFERENCE
WOULD STRIKE At LEAGUE
Future Meeting, Some Probability
in Far East, Indicated by
Trend of Events.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY &. GOULD LINCOLN.
The suggestion emanating from the
White House that out of the present
Washington conference there may de-
velop an association of nations win
annual assemblies to discuss worio
problems has stirred the keenest IN
1erest among the delegations of the
foreign powers now here. 1t Is the
topic most generally under discussion
today.
The reaction to the idea of future
conferences for the settlement OF IN
ternational problems-for the promo
tion of peace and the further hmita-
tion of armament-was distinctly Ia
vorable, according to opinions op-
tanned from spokesmen of various
delegations.
Await More Details.
With regard to the actual formation
of an association of nations. however.
the foreigners are inclined to await
a more detailed statement and con-
crete proposal before expressing an
opinion.
In the back of the minds of every
one, not unzaturally, is the league OF
nations, created at the Paris peace
conference, and what is to be the
fate of that organization in the event
of the establishment of a new asso-
citation of the nations OF the world.
VIII il be possible for the old league
to exist side by side with the pro-
posed new association of nations: IL
hot
little too early to tackle this question,
since the proposed association OF ma
tions is still in rather nebulous FORM
Prestige of League In Balance.
There seems little doubt. however,
that If the Washington conference
settles important problems of the Pa
cific-which the Paris conference
failed utterly to solve-and brings about
:, limitation Of naval armament. as it
.low. appears. pFcbahle ths,s Washington,
conference will do. the prestige of the
league of, nations will take along tum-
be. and anything that may grow out OF
the Washington conference in the way
oi an association Of nations will gain
correspondinSly in its hold upon the
kSoples of the world.
The view expressed at Japanese
touoy wig ~
the proposed annual assemblies to
discuss international matters was
distinctly favorable. In fact, the
idea was plainly welcomed. There
is much optimism there as to the out
come of the present conference.
: 1t was pointed out today by a
spokesman for the Japanese that the
problems of the nations change fire.
Quently from year to year, and for
that reason an assembly OF nations
annually would be an extremely wise
step. Without any suggestion that
the league of nations was to fall into
"Innocuous desuetude," it was new
ertheless pointed out that the United
States is not member of that
league, and that it is being borne in
upon the Japanese more and more
that the United States is a neighbor
The Japanese delegation, it was said,
has come here with the utmost frank
ness, desiring to do all in it's power
looking to the most friendly rela-
tions between the two countries, as
we'll as with the rest of the world.
Far East Meeting Suggested.
Nothing could be more conducive to
the most friendly relations. in the
opinion of the Japanese. than free
and frank discussions from year to
year, in which the principal states
men Of the nations may sit down to-
gether and talk things over. Some
Of the future meetings, outgrowths
Of the Washington conference, might
well be held in the far east, it was
suggested. An association of ma
tions, if such develops, might meet
in America one year, the far east an
other and in Europe in still another
year. 1t was pointed out
The British here, while looking
with approval upon any plans for
the future peace of the world, are
particularly desirous Of hearing the
details of an association Of nations,
as proposed, before expressing them
selves as to it's advisability, it was
pointed out today.
BeIxians Look to Future.
spokesmen for the Belgian delega-
tion also took the view that future
conferences similar to the Washing
ton one would be most desirable.
1t has been made clear that the
present conference. while it probably
will meet with success in handling a
number of the problems of the far
east, and with the matter of the
Limitation of naval armament, will
likely get little further in dealing
with the limitation of land arma-
ment than a set of principles regard
ing civilized warfare. But it is
realised that II there is to be a real
settlement of armament. problems
something must be done in connection
with land armies. If it cannot be
done at the Washington conference,
and France has indicated that 1t can
not. then 1t can be done only at fu-
ture conferences.
N is known that Italy and other
European nations are intensely in
teresxed in some steps being taken
which will bring about limitation
of land armies. The British position
has already been clearly indicated In
Lord Curzon's recent speech in Lon
don.
Italians Are Enthusiastic.
The Italian view. as obtained here
today. in regard to the American pro-
nosal for future conferences is not
only sympathetic, but enthusiastic.
Italy. it is understood. would be as
friendly to the idea of future con-
ferences as it was and is to the Wash
ington conference. Also. the italians
would, be glad. to see nations not in
cluded in the present conference take
nart in. future conferences, particular
Iy when it comes to the discussion of
a reduction of land ornaments. They
realize that 1t is impossible to deal
effectively with limitation of land
armament while some of the most
(ContinQed on Page ?. Column -