The commonwealth., 1921-11-16
PRESIDENTS WELCOME AD-
DRESS,

DRESS,
The text Of President Harding's ad-
dress at the opening of the conferences
on limitation of armament follows:
at lis Il great and happy privilege
TO bid the delegates 10 this conference
a cordial welcome TO the capital Of
the United States of America, 1t is
not only satisfaction to greet you
because we were lately participants
in common cause, in which shared
sacrifices and sorrows and triumphs
brought our nations more closely to-
gether, but it is gratifying to ad-
dress you as the spokesman for ma
tions whose convictions and attend
ing actions have so much to do vi n
the veal or woe Of all mankind.
III is not possible to over-appraise
the Importance of such a conference.
It Is no unseemly boast, no disparage-
ment of other nations which, though
not represented, are held in highest
respect, to declare that the conclu-
sions Of this body win have a signal
influence on all human progression
the fortunes of the world,
Here is n meeting, | can well be-
lieye, which Ia an earnest of the
awakened conscience Of twentieth CEN
tury civilization. 1t Is not a conven-
tion of remorse, nor session of sor-
row, 1t is not the conference of vic
tors to define terms Of settlement.
Nor is III Il council of nations seeking
to femake human kind, II is rather
a coming together from all parts Of
the earth, to apply the better attrib-
utes Of mankind to minimize the
faults in our international relation
ships. .....
Speaking as official sponsor for
the invitation, | think may say the
call is not of United States of Amer
ica alone, it is rather the spoken word
of a war-wearied world, struggling
for restoration, hungering and thirst
ing for better relationships; Of hum
anity crying for relief and craving
assurances of lasting peace.
SIT is easy to understand this world
wide aspiration. The glory Of triumph,
the rejoicing in achievement, the love
of liberty, the devotion to country,
the pangs of sorrow, the burdens of
debt, the desolation of ruiu--all these
are appraised alike in all lands. Here
in the United States we are but fresh
ly turned from the burial Of an I'M
known American soldier, when n nat
ion sorrowed while paying him trib-
ute. Whether it was spoken or not,
hundred million Of our people We're
summarizing the inexcusable causes
the incalcuable cost, the unspeakable
sacrifices, and the unutterable sor-
row and there was the ever impelljng
question: How can humanity justify
or God forgive? Human hate demands
no such toll; ambition and greed must
be denied IL If misunderstanding
must take the blame, then let ns ban
ieh it and let understanding rule and
make good will rsRnant everywhere.
All pf "a demand liberty and justice.
There cannot be- sns without the 9th
er and they must be held the unqueg-
toned pg&ssfsi0Hs Of all peoples. In
hercrt rights are Df God and the
tragedies of the worid originate in
their attempted denial The world
today is infringing their enjoyment
by arrntrg 10 defend or deny, when
simple sanity calls for their recogni-
lion through common understanding.
"0ut Of the cataelysrn Of the world
war come new fellowshipa, new con
new aspirations. 1t is ours
10 make the most Of them. A world
with debt needs its bur
den lifted. Humanity which has been
shocked by wanton destruction would
minimize the agencies OF that de-
struction. Contemplating the meas
ureless cost Of war and TIE enntinu-
ing burden Of armament, all thought
full peoples wish for real limitation
Of armament and would like war out
Iawed In soberest reflection the