New-York tribune., 1921-11-12
president Will Welcome
Envoys ofW orld Powers
at Historic Gathering
in the Continental Hall
TO Name Hughes
Presiding Officer
actual Work of Council
Set for Tuesday, When
Preliminary Tasks Will
: Be Assigned Committees
Sy Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-Wirn
the hope of the civilized world hang
! ing upon the success of his under
taking, President Harding to-morl ow
swill welcome the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament. Post
;poned so as not to interfere with
the Armistice Day. celebration for
the Unknown American hero, the
first meeting of the conference will
shegin at 1880 o'clock tomorrow
morning.
After the Presidents address to the
representatives of the four principal
Allied powers and the other powers in
vited to consider Pacific and Far East
ssrn questions, to which there will be no
replies from the foreigners, the con-
ference will elect Charles E. Hughes,
chairman of the American delegation,
as presiding officer and complete the
details Of organization. Secretary
Hughes will then deliver an address.
After this an adjournment will be taken
until Tuesday, so as to give time for
conferences
1t has become evident that much of
the work will be done by committees. so
that digested reports ready for amend
ment or approval may be laid before
1.-The conference. Through the method of
referring all the questions to commit
tees also, there will be a diplomatic
CLOSING over of the hard fact that GER.
tain things must be Strengthened out
before there can be any real agreement
lon limitation of armament
Far East Questions Vital
For, although the official name is
Athe Conference on the Limitation az
'Armam ent' and the Pacific and Far
Eastern questions ARE not even men
toned in the title, every delegate and
every attache knows that there must be
=: solution Of the various controversies
IN the Far East, particularly those in
which the United States and Japan are
on opposite sides, before there can he
any agreement as to the cutting down
or naval forces or even limiting their
expansion. On the contrary, every one
rpelleves that failure to agree on the
Pacific and Far Eastern questions
would, should that disaster occur. lead
inevitably to the countries involved
feverishly increasing their strength
sgainst what would seem an inevitable
conhict.
ihe meeting tomorrow will not be
one OF debate or negotiations. It will
oe spectacle. All of the delegates will
sit down together for the first time.
grouped around the horseshoe table,
S1iua .heir experts and advisers just
pehlnd each delegation. Several hum
olhcial Washington as can be crowded
an the rather small auditorium of Con
tinental Hall, the home of the Daugh-
tels OF the American Revolution, will
near the President welcome the most
oistingulshed international conference
~nlcn mas ever gathered in the West
ern hemisphere. But nothing will hap
pen which is not known tonight hv
shose concerned. The speeches Of the
president and Mr.. Hughes have been
earefully prepared.
lo-day's Meeing Historic Event
x All or this was known to Llovd
ueotge when he decided that the criti
ca! nature OF the Irish situation would
NOT permit him to attend the openinc
sessions. If the British Premier comes
quickly he will be in Washington be-
1ore any of the discussions reach the
ssage IN. which it could truthfully be
ealo enat progress had been made.
"'qcn less any real decisions reached.
but to-morrows meeting, despite it's
sormai character, will be an historic
svent no matter what the outcome of
sue conference. Never before have the
Hnations of the Old World sent their
W WHes1 minds for a conference in the
NV NV 10 solve questions which might
NO one can tell to-day how far
.sacaning may be the results achieved
=. tnis meeting which is to open in the
morning If successful, the conference
(CcntInued nm mana ainh4A