Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-11
Meeting On
Ar1nan1ents
Is sProposed
President Suggests Conference
Between Four Leading Ma
tions to Settle Question
"Of Limitations"
China Asked to Attend
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENN1NG

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, July 10. - President
Harding has proposed to Great Brit
ain, France, Italy and Japan, the
holding of conference in Washing
ton on the Limitation of ornaments
and on the Pacific and Far Eastern
problems.
The fact that he has approached
the four powers with view to issu-
ing formal invitation to participate
in the conference if they find the
suggestion acceptable, was formally
announced by the State department
tonight.
The president takes the position
that settlement of the issues aris-
ing among the nations bordering the
Pacific ocean would remove many
obstacles to an agreement on a re-
duction of armament and he there
fore has proposed that an effort be
made to reach solution of these
problems, to pave the way for favor
able consideration of the curtailment
OF expenditures for preparedness for
war.
China Asked to Attend.
China has been invited to partici-
Fate in the discussion of the far east
ern question which is evidently
viewed by the president as of the
boardest scope, doubtless involving
the whole question of Japanese ag-
grandizement on the Asiatic main
land.
The State departments official an
nouncement follows:
"By direction of the president, the
State department makes the follow
ing announcement:
"The president, in view OF the Tar
reaching importance OF the question
of limitation or ornaments, has ap-
preached with informal, but definite
inquiries, the group of powers here,
tofore known as the principal allied
and associated powers, that is. Great
Britain, France, Italy and japan, to
ascertain whether it would be agree
able TO them to take part in a con-
ference on this subject to be held in
Washington at time to be mutually
agreed upon. If the proposal is found
to be acceptable, formal invitations
for such a conference will be issued.
1T is manifest that the question OF
limitation of armaments has close
relation to Paeiic and Far Eastern
and the president has sug-
gested that the powers especially
interested in these problems should
in connection with this
conference, the consideration OF all
matters bearing upon their solution
with a view to reaching a common
understanding with respect to princi-
pies and policies in the Far East.
This has been communicated to the
powers concerned and China has also
been invited to take part in the dis
cussion relating to Far Eastern
Forestalls Congress.
BY taking this action the presi-
dent forcstalled the immediate pros
pective action of congress on the
question of reduction of armament.
The naval appropriation bill, which
may be finally approved by congress
contains the Borah
requesting the president
to negotiate with England and Japan,
an agreement on naval holiday.
When Mr.. Harding was at the sem
ate last week he told Senator Borah
he wanted to discuss the question of
procedure on this matter with him
at an early date.
Unwilling to narrow the negotia-
tons to the extent proposed in the
Borah amendment, the president, on
tie eve of his receipt of the measure,
has transmitted his proposal to
France and Italy as well as England
and Japan and has not limited the
scope Of the conference to the reduc-
ton of naval armament Under the
terms of his proposal. the reduction
Of military as we'll as naval arma-
rent would be subject to considera-
ton. X Y
Congress Rejects Plan.
This broadening of the proposition
was rejected by congress during con-
sideration of the Borah amendment.
II was contended that France and
Italy. whose armament is primarily
military, would never consent to
reduction of the size of their armies
md that their inclusion in the con-
ference would only result in failure
10 reach an agreement. MIR. Mon
iell, the majority leader of the house,
to amend the Borah amend ;
s,crt in the terms OF. the presidents
proposal, but he. was overwhelmed
.ith the opposition and the Borah
was accepted as 1t was
passed by the senate.
Senator Borah did not conceal his
when apprised OF the ac-
ION of the president in forestalling
with broader proposal,
which he deems certain to defeat the
laval holiday movement, but he de-
clined to be quoted until he could
give further consideration to the sit
iation.