Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-07
HARDING TELLS DELEGATES
WORK TO BREED NO CONFLICT
Continued From First Pagel

are proclaimed To the world. No new
standards Of national honor have
been sought. but the indictments of
national dishonor have been drawn
ard the world is ready to proclaim
the odiousness Of pcrfidy or infamy.
1t is not pretended that the pur-
suit OF peace and the limitations of
armament are new ConceitS. or that
the conference is new conception
either in settlement OF war or in
writing the conscience OF interna-
t;onal relationship. Indeed. it Is not
new To have met in the realization of
wars supreme penalties. The Hague
conventions are examples of the one.
the conference OF Vienna. OF Berlin.
of Versailles arc outstanding in
stances of the other.
Achievement Is Supreme.
The Hague conventions were de-
fcatcd by the antagouism OF one
strong power whose indisposition 10
cooperate and sustain led II to one
% the supreme tragedies which have
come 10 national cmincnce. Vienna
and berlin sought peace founded on
the iniusticcs OF war and sowcd the
seeds Of future conflicts and hatred.
was armed where confidence was stiff
led.
1T Is fair TO say that human prog
ress. the grown intimacy of intcrna-
tional relationship. developed com
municatidn and transportation. at
tended by directing world opinion.
have set the. stage more favorably
here You have met In that calm
elaboration and that determined
resolution which have made JUS;
peace. In righteous relationship. its
own best guaranty.
1T has been the fortune OF this
conference to ST; in Il day far enough
removed from wars bitterness, yet
near enough to wars horrors. to gain
the benefit OF both hatred OF war and
the ycarninG for peace. Too often.
heretofore. the decades following
such gatherings hav. been mark cd
hy the difficult undoing OF their de-
cisions.
but your achievement Is supreme
because no seed OF conflict has been
sown. no reaction In regret or re-
sentiment ever can Justly resort to
arms.
1T little matters what we appraisc
as the outstanding accomplishment
Any one Of them alone would have
justified the conference. But the
whole achievement has so cleared the
breathing the refreshing air OF a
new morn OF promise.
You have written the first DELHI
crate and effective expression of
great powers. in the consciousness Of
peace. Of wars utter futility. and
challenged the sanity OF competition
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
sorrow and ruin and staggering obli-
cations OF n world war is To end the
strif. in preparation for more of it
and turn human energies to the con-
stTuct'vencss OF peace.
believed in Preparedness.
not all the world Is yet tran
quilted. But here is the example, 20
Undue with new hope all who dwell
In apprehension. Al this table came
understanding and understanding
brands armed conflict as Ohomnable
IN the eyes OF enlightened civilizations
Il once believed in armed prepared
ness. advocated IL. But / have
come now TO believe there Is a bet
ter preparedness In a public mind ana
Il world opinion made ready to grant
Justice precisely as II cxacts IT, And
OF peace than In conflicts at arms.
How simple 4, all has been. When
you met her. twelve weeks ago there
was not commitment. not All obl!gr.
ton except that which each dclera-
ton owes 20 the government com
m!ssioning il. But human service
was calling. world conscience was
!mpe!ling, and world opinion direct
ing.
NO intrigue. no orensv. or do
fens!ve alliances, no invoIvemcnts
have wrought your agreements. but
reasoning with each other to com
mon understanding has made new re-
!ationships among governments and
peoples, new securities for peace
and new opportunities for achieve
in-nt and attending happiness
Tier" have been established the
contacts of reason, hare has come
the inevitable understanding of fac.-
to-iacc exchanges when passion does
not !nflamc. The very atmosphere.
shamei national selfishness into re-