Evening star., 1921-10-08
ALL ANGLES CONSIDERED.
U. S. Not Neglecting Specific Pro.
posals for Arms Conference.

1t is not to be assumed that because
this government has made no state
ment suggesting contemplation of
specific proposals for armament limi-
tation at the coming International
conference. it will be unprepared on
the subject or enter the conference
with any lack of enthusiasm for the
object TO be attained. Absence of ex-
ploitation publicly of pre-conference
consideration by no means indicates
lack of due attention to all angles
of the great question.
The policy of this government is to
preserve the essence of this being a
conference in every sense of the word
"a meeting OF representatives of the
powers who will come together and
evolve plan for armament limita-
ton as the result OF an exchange of
views and calm discussion Of many
propositions expected to develop.
Confederate of Others.
This government appreciates the
necessity of having clear ideas of
what ii thinks ought to be done. but
is likewise alive to the consideration
due tha ideas of other proponents Of
suggestions. Just as the United States
resisted the proposal for preliminary
meetings to the general assembling
as destructive of the principle of a
full and free conference, so it will
consistently follow the broad policy
of seeking to make it a conference in
fact and not a ratification meeting Of
a preconceived plan.
With painstaking care, the officials
of the government have sought from
the beginning to keep clearly before
the world the cordiality of spirit in
which the conference was called, the
good will felt toward all the nations
party to it and the intense earnestness
to make it an occasion for ironing out
difficulties which harasS and menace
the nations.
While it would be untimely to say
that there have been formal accept
ances of the agenda for the work
Of the conference suggested some weeks
ago by the United States government,
there is official authority for the
statement that no objections have
been raised thus far. The agenda
was framed with great care and on
the broadest possible lines, and the
efforts of it's authors are apparently
satisfying the participating nations.
U. y. Delegates to Confer.
The American delegation, 1t is
thought, will hold its first session
next week. Elihu Root has been alb
days. but word is expected early in
the week of his early departure for
Washington. Announcement Of the
advisory board by President Harding
is coincident with the meeting.
In official circles. while there can
obviously be no comment upon the
subject. the latest communication
from China to Japan on the proposed
Shantung settlement inferentially
suggesting modification OF the terms,
is receiving sympathetic attention.
That is to say, it is hoped In Wash
ington official quarters that there
was not absolute fnality in the Jap
anese proposal. and that further con-
sideration may disclose that the way
is yet open for a possible settlement
agreeable to both parties to it,
The view here is that careful an
alysis of the terms does not show
the existence of any insuperable
points of difference and that further
reading and study may lead to justi-
fable notifications. Naturally, there
would be general qualification of all
the other powers if the Shantung af-
fair could be classed as among the
closed incidents by the time the con-
ference assemblies.