The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-02-09
WORLD MEETING
CLOSED MONDAY
GREAT CONFERENCE ADJOURNS
AFTER TWELVE WEEKS SES-
SION FOR PEACE.

sealed, the Washington conference was
passed on to history Monday by pres
ident Harding as "an example to i'm
bue with new hope all that dwell
in apprehension"
Speaking before plenary ses-
sion which brought to close the
negotiations begun twelve weeks ago
at his invitation, the president de-
clared the record of achievement
voiced in courageous tones "the first
deliberate and effective expression OF
great powers, in the consciousness
Of peace, of wars utter futility."
Before him as be pronounced his
appraisement lay, newly signed, the
treaties by which the predominant
nations of the world engaged to put
a limit on their navies, to guarantee
a new deal for China, and to set
ur an international concord to keep
the peace in the Pacific.
at matters little" said Mr.. Hard
ing, "what we appraise as the out
standing accomplishment. Any one
of them alone would have justified
the conference. But the whole
achievement has so cleared the at
mosphere that it will seem like
breathing the refreshing air OF a
new morn Of promise.
"It may be that the naval holiday
here contracted will expire with the
treaties, but l do not believe it.
Those of us who live another de-
cade are more likely to witness a
growth of public opinion, strength
ered by the new experience, which
will make nations more concerned
!. with living to the fulfilment of Gods
? high intent than with agencies OF
warfare and destruction.
"Since this conference of nations
has pointed with unanin,ity to the
way of peace today, like conferences
in the future, under appropriate con-
ditions and with aims well conserved
and definite, may illumine the high
ways and byways of human activities.
The torches of understanding have
been lighted, and they ought to glow
and encircle the globe"
The president delivered his part
ing message to the delegates as soon
as the formal signing Of the treaties
had been concluded, and when he fin
ished the conference closed, as it had
orened on November IL, with prayer,
by the Rev. William S. Abernethy,
pastor of Calvary Baptist church
which President Harding attends
Within a few hours some of the
foreign delegations already had left
Washington, and most Of the others
will go tomorrow.
Four treaties, and supplement to
a fifth were given final approval to-
day, but their red wax seals had
been attached in advance and the
entire ceremony occupied less than
an hour. No other business re-
manned and the seventh and final
plenary session came to an end at
11:13 a. m, one hour and eleven min
utes after it was called to order.
In the order of their signature
the instruments to which the pie
nipotentiaries affixed their names
svere the four-power Pacific treaty
supplement-, excluding the principal
japanese islands from the scope OF
the pact; the five-power naval limita'
ton treaty; the five-pcwer submarine
and poison gas treaty; the nine-power
general Far Eastern treaty, and the
nine-power Chinese tariff treaty. OF
the three other treaties resulting
from the Washington negotiations
that relating to Shantung was signed
Saturday, and those dealing with
cable rights in Yap and ALLEGATION
O.. the former German Pacific cables
are vet to be put into final form
by direct exchanges between the in
terested governments. The four
power Pacific treaty was signed De-
cember Is.
The signing took place at the desk
of the Secretary General in the center
of the great hollow square formed
by the U-shaped green baize table
about which all the plenary sessions
OF the conference were held. Only
one delegate sat at the desk at a time,
but to shorten the ceremony it was
arranged that each should sign in
immediate succession all the docu-
-nents to which his government was