The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-23
AMERICA QUIETLY.
 MAKING PLANS FOR
 CONFERENCE MEET
Speculation as to Personnel of Body Has Brought In Names of Major Bliss
 and Admiral coontz
By Associated Press

Washineton, August 22.--Whjle dip- ltmatie formahties of the disarma4 ment conference move forward with customary deliberation, the American Aovernment is quietly at work de- lining the principles and collecting the information which will guide it's representatives at the council table
 By these efforts, about which of ficials will say nothing, consdera- Lie progress is understood to have been made. both toward preparation of plans and date for the American commissioners and toward canvass or the diplomatic field to determine What international problems are con- sidercd within the scope of the con- ference. Both the army and the navy ha,e taken an extensive part in the governments preparations.
 Great Drltain Accepts
 The formal acceptance of Great Britain reached the state department ieday and was made public with many expressions of satisfaction. Formal acceptance of Japan, Italy and France are yet to come
 It has not been revealed what steps may have been taken diplomat- ically to bring about agreement as to the scope of the conference, but the nature of the formal replies are taken generally here to indicate that negotiations on that subject are en- ,.rely separate from the semi-public formal exchanges over the actual as- sembling of the delegates It Is un- dcrstood that the tendency has been to hold discussions of scope in an informal status to facilitate free exchange of views.
 American Programme
 The American governments own preparations for the conference are understood to have reached far into the fields of political, military and naval inquiry. Almost daily meet iEgs have taken place between rresi- dent Harding and Secretary Hughes who will head the American dele Esxation and today the President con. ftrred also with Senator Lodge, who also will be one of the American rep resentatives A staff of state de- uartment experts has been occupied for some days preparing information and like groups are at work in the war and navy departments
 The preparation of army lntelli- gence naS gone lOrWdru uiA OSNay uit der the eye of General Pershing in his capacity as chief of staff, ana it is taken for granted he will oc- cupy an important place as military advisor at the conferenfe. It is un- derstood he has given particular at tention to the preliminary collection of data because of his interest ana understanding of foreign military es- tAblishnents through contact witn them during the war, and that ne IS looked on with additional favor as an advisor because of his personal acquaintance with many of those who will come here in the military groups of the other powers.
 Major Bliss Mentioned
 Another who has been mentioned as . likely selection to advise the American delegates on military SUD jects is Major General Tasker Biiss' former chief of staff, and member of the supreme military council or the allies before he became 8 dele- gate to the versailles peace confer cnce.
 Eor the navy it is believed gem erally that Admiral Coontz. the chtel Of operations, will be chosen a chief adviser to the delegations IL IS noS unlikely that he may be secondeo by Rear Admiral Benson, retired war-tfme chief of operations. ana now . member of the shipping ooaro.