The Washington herald., 1921-07-14
OFFICIALS OPPOSE
CHANGING OF ARMS
PARLEY TO LONDON
President and Hughes
Study Makeup of Ameri-
can Delegation.
By ROBERT J. BENDER.


President Harding and Secretary
Hughes have begun work on estab-
fishing definite machinery for in
ternational discussion of arfname mt
Limitation and Far Eastern prob
lens. The work thus far embodies:
1. Discussion with the Interested
the conference, which. in the case
of England. is proving somewhat
involved owing to present and i'm
pending events within the British
Empire.
9. Preparation of the American
suggestions for an agenda, or pro-
gram of procedure, for the confer
ence.
,. Selection of the personnel of
the American commission to the
conference,
Premiers In Conference.
The first question has developed
suggestions from London that pre-
liminsry conference on Far Eastern
problems be held at the British
capitaf before the armament cot-
ference meets in Washington. These
suggestions are based upon the fact
that the imperial conference of the
United Kingdom is now assembled
in London, the dominion premiers
are on the ground there and, as a
matter of convenience. a conference
devoted to qustions in tn Pacific
might b advatageously held there.
In addition other domestic problems,
such as the settlement of the Irish
question. are occupying Lloyd
Georges attention at home and the
combined circumstances might make
for a delay in calling the assemblage
in Washington.
1t is the opinion of this govern
ment. however. that, though dis
posed to get down to business on
the great project as quickly as pos
sible, it would be better to do it
more slowly and do it right rather
than start hastily to convenience
some nation.
Questions Involved.
II the conference is to enjoy max
imum assurances of success, the
administration believes. the dis
cussions of armament Limitation
and Far Eastern problems should
occur conjunctively and simulta-
neously-and at Washington. The
original suggestions sent out by
Secretsry Hughes prescribed this
and with these suggestions Eng
land, France and Italy have for
mally expressed their accord in
fsfN 1FrHNR loo inn To hn n Ia
partment.
involved in these acceptances of
Washington as the scene of the
conference, the administration be-
lieves that it would be to the best
interests of all the naions involved
il he whole discussion took place
in the American Capital. The rea-
soning to this conclusion can be
summed up thus:
To Remove Friction g..
No progress can be expected to-
ward armament limitation until
causes of friction in the world are
removed. 1t would seem logical,
therefore. that solution of ques-
tions creating friction would have
to be determined first. 1t would.
however, be entirely within the
province of the assemblage. to fix
its agenda so that conferences on
both Far Eastern questions and
armament limitation could go for
ward at the same time, solution of
different phases of the one permit
ting of simultaneous decisions rel
ative to the other.
Were there independent confer
ences on each. held Mt diffrenI
capitals. it is pointed out. there
might follow enbarrassments re-
sulting from Indications that action
on the part of one conference was
entirely dependent upon results
achieved in the other.
VIII stand Firm.
Further, II Is stated. in devising
machinery for the conclave, public
opinion must support the whole pro-
ject IL II is to succeed. There would
be popular disappointment, il is felt.
IL the armament conference in
Washington were to be put off until
solutions were reached elsewhere
on Far Eastern problems. There
would arise the feeling, 1t is feared.
that armament Limitation. after all,
was not the great objective sought,
but. rther. adjustment of certain
diplomatic questions was the real
al mof Harding.
On the cable division, Walter
Rogers, who directed the American
negotiations on this subject at
Paris and after his return to Wash
ington did further work, on the
project, is expected to be repre-
scented, and Norman Davis is an
other name mentioned in connec-
lion with the personnel to be at
sached to this work when the big
conference begins