Evening star., 1921-12-24
PEACE ABOVE ALL,
PRESIDENTS AIM

Understanding More Import
ant Than Treaty Interpre-
tations, He Holds.
BY LEROY T. VERNON.
On the eve of Christmas. while the
conference on the limitation of arma-
ment was continuing its debate on
the submarine question. President
Harding was making these observa-
tions at the White House on the con-
ference and it's work:
| In a formal statement he declared
| that understandings for peace and an
agreement to meet and discuss the
preservation of peace whenever it
Twas threatened was far more i'm
portant to his mind than differing
constructions on the four-power
i treaty.
Interpreting that document further,
! he added: NO alliance or entangle-
ment is thought of, none will be ne
| gotiated.'
| Replying to the charge that the
| American delegation has withheld in
| formation on the work of the con-
| ference from the country or from him,
l the President declared the charge un-
justifiable, and concluded by saying:
Actually Bigger Thing.
1T is one thing to talk about the
| ideals of peace. but the biggest thing
is to seek the actuality. This the
\ conference is doing, in harmony with
| an overwhelming American sentiment,
and world sentiment. too. and in
full accord with cherished American
| traditions"
! Following the issuance of this for
; NAL statement the President let 1t be
! known that during his administration
there will be no use of the military
! and naval forces of the United States
without the express authority of Con-
| eress. That they should be used in
| to the mind of the President, who
plainly indicated that he did not be-
IItle any Reservation TO the Iour-
power pact necessary to prevent the
| use of armed forces without the con-
sent of Congress.
At the same time the President made
| it clear that he saw no CONNECTION
whatever between the league. of ma
tiuns ana me ashington conference.
either directly or inferentialIy. While
the league and the present conference
are both international agencies work.
the world. their, relationship. in his
! opinion. ends there. .:
! Indicates PersoniI Wish.
In a similar informal manner the
President indicated his personal wish
thai the present conference should
consider the question of land arma-
ment further if it is possible to do it,
Finally. President Harding in an
swer to question whether ''tne world
has made great progress in the di-
rection Of peace and good will'' dur
ing the present year. delivered HIM
self of an emphatic. affirmative an
swer which was later issued from the
White House in the form of u Christ
mas message to the country.
In this statement he again referred
to the Washington conIel fence as ii
"nelpful. progressive expression for
a righteous adjustment without an
appeal to slaughter and waste and all
the distresses that attend" The
President added the opinion that ma
tions deliberating for peace. as the
Washington conference is now doing,
could prevent war as easily as they
could deliberate on the wreckage of
war at it's conclusion. With specific
reference again to the four-power
pact, he said.
IF there was menace to peace in
Japan. what objection could there be
for the United States to sit down with
her friend in the Orient, and with the
other great powers. to discuss how
the matter could be adjusted?"
Will Eliminate Causes.
The President added that if this
course had been followed in Europe
in 1914 there would have been no
world war and that "the whole pur-
pose of this conference is to provide
some means where just, thoughtful.
righteous peoples, who are not seek
ing to seize something which does not
belong to them; can live peaceably
together and eliminate causes of con-
flict. UNLESS this opportunity is TAX
en- now. the President said he would
mot give much for. the civilization of
the future"
The purpose of the Presidents OBJ
servations at this time was to en-
the high moral tone of the Washing
ton conference. his faith in it's earn
est endeavors and the promise its
achievements. both actual and pro-
spective. hold to the world at this
Christmas season. With a limitation
of aggressive naval armaments in
sight. peace in the Pacific reasonably
assured by the four-power pact. and
the conference still working steadily
on the remaining problems before It,.
the President desired to stress the
larger aspects of its work as an
answer to those who are making OBJ
jections to some Of the details which
| he, personally, regards as "unimpor-
tant.
Fairly Gauged Work.
That the President has fairly
gauged the worth of the work of the
| conference as it is viewed by public
opinion and it's effect on the Senate.
was today reflected by a prominent
! mid-western senator, who said:
This country wants a limitation
! on armaments and peace. The Senate
will discuss the details of the agree
| ments of this conference at great
length, reservations will be offered
| and votes taken. but, in the end. the
Senate will ind that the country is
| viewing sthe larger things which the
President has emphasized and wants
! these agreements ratified as the only
means of Immediate progress toward
! disarmament and peace"
! Copyright. 1871