South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-17
GIVE DECISION
AT MEETING OF
COUNCIL BOARD
Will Not Interfere With Pro
posed Conference of Pow
ers at Washington.
PRAISE HARDING ACTION
Announce That League Vel
comes Any Deliberations
to Solve Question.
By Associated Pres.

7
PARIS. Juy 16.-The League of
Nations IS going anead with its work
IN connection with disarmament on
/ the theory that 1t viii In no wise In
terfere with the proposed conference
on Limitation OF ornaments in Wash
ington and that It may develop IN
/ formation which would be OF use 10
such a conference That was the de-
cision announced at the opening
session today Of tho temporary mix
ed commission for the reduction OF
ornaments appointed by the league
which was presided over by Rene
Viviani OF France. chairman OF the
| commission.
NJ. Vivtani, H. A L Fisher, the
British representative. Sen carlo
/ Schanzer OF Italy and tho delegates
Of the leading nations represented
on the commission were agreed on
this point and also were IN accord
in praise OF Pres't Harding's tnitia-
tive IN proposing a conference on
ornaments. They declared the league
/ could not but welcome joyfWly al
/ deliberations having in view a solu-
1 ton of the delicate and complex gem
eral question which the league was
studying effectively.
VIII Take Survey.
Brief exchanges Of views this
morning showed the delegates were
| impressed with the necessity OF pro
! ceeding prudently with the question
by easy stages. since IL IS Impossible
not 10 take into account the special
situation OF certain countries and
the absence OF Russia and Germany
from the league. The commission
VIII first make a general survey Of
the situation as set forth by data
gathered by the leagues consultative
military and naval commission and
appoint subcommittee TO take up
special branches Of the subject.
The tendency in French circles TO
| consider the leagues disarmament
commission useless in view OF the
proposed washington conference vas
! deprecated by the argument that the
commissions work IN no way preju-
diced what any other deliberative
may do and the suggestion was made
that NJ. VivianIs work on the com
mission would make him a likely
representative Of France IN Wash
ington in case Premier BRAND should
be unable TO go.
NJ. Viviani. In his address opening
the sessions. after reviewing the
history Of the creation Of the COM
mission said:
After indicating my conception Of
how we should fulfu our mission
I feel no hesitation IN commenting
on the great and noble initiative
taken by Pres't Harding a few days
ago. We have not been surprised
that the head OF the great American
nation, so powerful and so generous.
and which has so often discussed tho
question Of disarmament, should have
taken the lead in assembling the
various government for the purpose
Of reaching agreements. we should
be the first 70 congratulate such ac-
ton and we are happy TO greet this
step. We are glad 20 be associated
IN Il, certain that the work We are
going to prepare cannot but be taken
into consideration by the govern
ments we ourselves shall have gath
cred next September. having before
us some solutions OF the problems
I do not say they Will be definite.
but they VIII be precise.
Difficult Question.
IT may add that the question OF
disarmament IS so difficult. complex
and delicate that those who discuss
It must meet without preC0nceived
notions, ignorance and prejudice and
must overcome traditions and eco
nomic difficulties. There cannot be
too many OF US who wish 20 concern
/ ourselves with tnIs problem. 20 ap-
peal 20 public opinion and 20 pre-
pare the world for this question that
should be solved and definitely
solved.
such is the spirit IN which we
must WORK. Cor truly u would not
have been worth while 20 have suf-
fered the atrocious war II >ve could
not draw fruitful lessons from the
sacrifices Of our sons"
Mr. Fisher in an address APPROX
Ing Nf Vivianfs statement said.
IF the washington conference
should as must be hoped. reah an
agreement, that agreement would
certainly be in conformity with ar
ticle 4 Of the covenant Of the .eac-la.
This commission also should expres7
great satisfaction with the action
taken BY Pres't Harding which. fzr
b from being in opposition 20 the gen
eral idea OF the league. IS on the
contrary, in fun conformity with is
spirit"
He suggested that the naval die
armament might be considered sep
arately from reduction Of the land
forces
"As 70 land disarmament" Mr.
Fisher added. "lt VIII be useful 20
emphasize that az long as Germany
and Russia remain outside the
league. and as long as one is unccr-
tain Of Germany's good faith. Il VIII
be very dinicu,t 20 accomplish re-
suits. u IS Necessary that We show
Yourselves very prudent