The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-06
HARDING ASKS
SUCCESS FOR
PARLEY WORK
Results of Conference, if
Faith is Kept, Will Mark
New Era in History, Says
President.
SEES PEACE PROSPECT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-"Nearly
three months ago it was my pleasure
to utter to you sincerest words of vel
come to the capital of our republic,
to suggest the spirit in which you
were invited. and 10 intimate the at
mosphere in which you We're asked to
confer" declared President Harding
in a farewell address to the delegates
ference today
To-day it is my greater privilege,
and even greater pleasure, TO come to
make acknowledgment. 1t is one of the
supreme compensations of live TO con-
template a worthwhile accomplish
ment.
This conference has wrought a
truly great achievement 1t is hazard
Gus sometimes to speak in superla-
tives. but | will be restrained. | will
say with every confidence that the
faith pIighted here today, kept in ma
tional honor, will mark the beginning
of a new and better era in human
progress.
Sees New Morn
"Tt little matters what we appraise
as the outstanding accomplishment.
Anyone of them 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 new
morn of promise.
| "You have written the first delib-
! crate and effective expression of great
powers in the consciousness of peace,
! of wars utter futility. and challenged
| the sanity of competitive preparation
for each others destruction.
! "You have halted folly and lifted
burdens, and revealed to the world
that the one sure way to recover from
! the sorrows and ruin and staggering
obligations of a worldwar is to end
the strife in preparation for more OF
! it and turn human energies to the con-
, structiyeness of peace.
/ Believed in Preparedness.
81 once believed in armed prepared
ness. / advocated it. But | have come
now to believe there is better pre-
paredaess~4nsa~pu public mind and a world
opinion made ready to grant justice
precisely as it exacts it. And justice
| is better served in conferences OF
peace than in conflicts at arms.
"How simple it all has been. When
you met here II weeks ago there was
not a commitment, not an obligation
! except that which each delegation
owes to the government commission
ing it, but human service and calling
world conscience was impelling and
world opinion directing. When | first
met | told you of our Americas
thought TO seek less of armament and
none of war; that we sought nothing
which is another's; and we were un
afraid, but that we wished to join yoC
in doing that finer nObler thing. which
no nation can do alone We rejoice il
the accomplishment. 1t may be thai
the naval holiday here contracted will
expire with the treaties, but | do no
believe it
Indeed, it is not new to have met il
the realization of wars supreme penal
ties. The Hague conventions are ex
amples of the one, the conference o
Vienna, of Berlin, of Versailles are
outstanding instances of the other.
No Sure Foundation
The Hague conventions were de
feated by the antagonism of one strong
power whose indisposition to cooper
ate and sustain led it to one of the
supreme tragedies which have come tC
national eminence.s Vienna and Ber
unanimity and today's adjournment il
tees of war and sowed the seeds o
future conflict, and harted was armed
where confidence was stifed.
1T is fair to say that human progress
the grown intimacy of internationa
relationship, developed communication
and transportation attended by a di
Tecting world opinion have set tn,
stage more favOrably here. You hay'
met in that calm deliberatiOn and tha
determined resolution which hav,
Continued on Page Twelve)