Evening star., 1921-11-26
ny the Associated Press.

Ry the Associated Press.
A continuing series of international
conferences, whose fruition may be
an association Of nations" has been
suggested informally by President
Harding to some of the arms dele
gates and has met with theiy general
approval.
The suggestion has by no means
reached the point of Il definite pro-
posal for such an association. but II
was revealed last night that the
Presidents personal conversations
with foreign SpokeSmen on the sub
ject had greatly increased his hope
for a new day in international re-
lationship as result OF the Wash
ington conference.
1t was indicated further that as a
first step toward Worldwide recog-
milton for the conference plan the
results of the negotiation here might
be submitted for approval not only
to the participating nations. but to
those not represented here, including
Germany and Russia.
So far as the suggestions of Mr..
Harding have been made known they
contemplate Il meeting of nations
about the council table once "a year
TO thrash out troublesome questions
and devise means for the preServa-
tion of peace. 1t is said to be the
hope of the President that in the end
all the smaller governments Will join
with the great powers in whatever
discussions may concern them or the
world situation generally.
No Covenant Indicated.
There is no Indication that any
covenant or constitution would he
proposed as the basis of the plan. or
that any elaborate International ma
~. 4 Il
il into effect. The meetings might
be convened to consider special sub
jectS or merely TO survey lnterna-
tional relationships and look tor
danger points in a general effort at
good understanding.
Whether an international court of
Justice might be ore of the results
is subject which the President is
said To consider too nebulous for
present discussion. although he is
said to regard some such tribunal
AS a logical part of the plan he has
advocated for an association of ma
lions" His opinions on that subject
have been expressed in several pub
lie addresses during the past year.
but he never has made d detailed
public statement of the exact method
by which a court could be established.
In fact. in his preliminary conSid-
Grafton of the best means toward in
ternational cooperation, MIR. Hard
ing is said by his friends TO have
tried to keep his proposals as free
from detail as possible. with the de-
liberate purpose OF reducing to a
minimum the probable causes of
complication. His intention IL de-
clared TO have been to apply 10 the
world situation in the hroadest usage
the principle of "a meeting of minds
as he employed it in his pre-inaugu-
ration days at Marion
GentIemen's Agreement Acceptable.
So far is he willing to go toward
dispensing with details. it is declar-
ed. that he is ready to let the results
of the present conference and the
plans for future meetings rest mere
ly on gentleman agreement.
rather than a formal treaty. Some
members of the American delegation
in the conference are said to favor
the treaty method. and the point rs
Yet to be decided: but it was assert
ed in authoritative quarters last
night that so far as Mr.. Harding was
concerned he would as soon have a
nations word as its bond.
This position the President is said
to base upon a faith that the wash
ington conference VIII help TO put a
new face upon international rela-
tionships and arouse new sense OF
national honor. Agreements such as
the conference is expected TO reacn
are regarded by the chief executive
as touching closely national consider
alton of uprightness and good Will
and resting, therefore. upon the good
faith of the nations concerned.
The hope of the President for a
continuation of conferences like the
present one became known at mo-
ment when the arms delegates reach
ed a stage of their deliberations
strongly suggesting in itself that fur
ther negotiations will be necessary
to consumnate the task begun here.
Further Meetings Needed.
1T also is becoming apparent that