The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-07
ARMS CONFERENCE,
 WORK COMPLETED, IS NOW HISTORY
Any One of Single Accom- pliShments Would Have Jus tified Conference, Says
 President in Address
By Associated Press

passed on to history today by Pres ident Harding as Ian example to inbue with new hope all that dwell in apprehension"
 Speaking before a pIenary session which brought to & close the negoti- ations begun 12 weeks ago at his in- yitation. the President declared the record of achievement voiced in cour- sgeous tones, the first deliberate and effective expression of great powers, in the consciousness of peace, of wars utter futility.s
 Before him as he pronounced his appraisement lay, newly signed. the treaties by which the predominant nations of the world engage to put a limit on their navies, to guarantee 6 new deal for China, and to set up an international concord to keep the peace in the Pacific.
 Tt matters little," said Mir. Hard ing. what we appraise as the out standing accomplishments. Any one of them alone would nave 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.
 Sees Perpetual Holiday
 Tt 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 decade are more likely to witness a growth of public opinion, strengthened by the new experience, which will make na- tions more concerned with living to the fulhllment of Gods high intent than with agencies of warfare and destruction,
 Since this conference of nations has pointed with unanimity to the fway Of peaceAtedas, like conferences In tl1e future, under appropriate con ditions and with aims well -conceiv- ed and definite, may illumine the highways and byways of human ac- 1 tivity. The torches of understanding have been lighted and they ought to l glow and encircle the globe"
 The president delivered his parting message to the delegates as soon as the formal signing of the treaties had been concluded, and when he fni ed the conference closed. as it had open ed on November 12, with prayer. Within a few hours some of the for- eign delegates already had left Wash ington and most of the others will go tomorrow.
 Approve Four Treaties Four treaties and supplement to a fifth were given final approval today but their red wax seals had been at tached in advance and the entire ceremony occupied less than an hour. No other business remained and the seventh and final plenary session came to an end at 11:13 a. m, one hour and eleven minutes after it was called to order
 In the order of their signature, the instruments to which the plenipoten i tiaries affixed their names were the four power Pacific treaty supplement, excluding the principal Japanese Is- lands from the scope of the pact; the five-power naval limitation treaty: the fiYe-power submarine and poison gas treaty; the nine-power general far eastern treaty and the nine power Chinese tariff treaty
 Of the three other treaties result ing from the Washington neEotia- tions, that relating to Shantung was signed Saturday, and those dealing with cable rights in Tap and allo- , cation of the former German Pacific cables are yet to be put into final form by direct exchanges between the interested governments The fourpower Pacific treaty was signed December IS.
 The signing took place at the desk of the secretary general in the cen ter of the great hollow square formed by the green baize table about which all the plenary sessions of the con- ference were held. only one dele gate sat at the desk at time but to shorten the ceremony it was ar ranged that each should sign in im- ments to which his government was party.
 Americans Sign Pact
 Amid applause from the hundreds who had crowded into Continental hall to see the wind-rp of the con- ference, the American delegation filed around the table and Into the hollow square d few minutes after the session began. one after am other Secretary Hughes, Senator Lodge, Senator Underwood and Elihu Root wrote their names to the five agreements, each touching lightly, as a token of approval the seals already set opposite the spaces left for his signature.
 hum of conversation kept up throughout the hall interrupted by applause as each of the American delegates rose and gave way for the next to sign. All of the foreign dele gates were applauded, too, as they came up in turn to give the consum- mating approval of their govern ments to the achievements of the con ference.
 Called in alphabetical order. the Belgian, British, Chinese, French, Italians. Japanese, Netherlands and Portugese delegations followed the Americans and the handclapping which followed conclusion of the ceremony scarcely had begun to die out when it was renewed at the ap- pearance of President Harding Many times during his address he was ap- plauded, and when he finished the delegates and spectators rose and joined in a demonstration which end- ed only when the Rev. William s. Abernathy, standing at the head of the table. raised his hand and began the final prayer.
 To Report to President
 As the concluding act of their l2 weeks of labor. Ahe American delega- tions will unite within few days In report to the President. formally placing in his hands the five treaties lready for Senate ratification and a tContinued on Page Two.) e.