New-York tribune., 1922-02-07
President Predicts Naval
Holiday Will Be Made
Permanent, IN Farewell
Speech to Conference
Praises Delegates
For Achievements
Ratification Of Treaties l.
Certain; Clarifying Res
ervations Not Opposed
Rv Carrier Eield

BY Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ga glo7p-
ing tribute 10 tho achievements Or
the Armament Limitation Confer
cnce by President Harding. m which
he voiced the fervent hope that tie
naval holiday would be made pcrna-
nent and that future conference o.
Ike nature would follow tho ex-
ample set here, marked the closing
hour to-day Of t!re Washington con-
ference.
The Presidents address followed
the signing by the delegates 10 the
conference Of the FIVE treaties rro'..
ing out Of the meeting which had
not yet been signed
A brief prayer after The Pre~i-
dents speech and then the confer
ence, which has lasted since NoVena.
Der y, and which has flied the days
and nights Of this group Of dipio-
mats, with their hundred # experts
and advisers, representing The n--
powers OF the world most Interested
in sea power and IN the Far East
adjourned sine die
Chief Interest IL speed,
As the last actual business Of the
conference. save the formal signing
of these remaining Eve treaties, had
been concluded on Saturday. interest
to-day centered largely on the Preai-
dents speech. Those who know tha-
this meeting Of The nine powers co1-
stituted the beginning Of his 'dea of
the association Of nations. and os
his hopes that the work begun here
viii go on with additional confer
ences, one Of which, some year.
hence, he hopes viii make the naval
holiday permanent, were not sur
prised at the concluding paragraphs
Of his address.
1T may be he SAID. that the
naval holiday here contracted VIZ
expire with the treaties, but | do not
believe it. Those OF US who live ar
other decade are more likely TO WI
ness a growth Of public opinion,
strengthened by the new experience,
which will make nations more con-
cerned with living to the fuifIlmenC
of Gods high intent than with
agencies OF warfare and destruction.
Since this conference of nations has
pointed with unanimity TO the way %
peace to-day, like conferences IL the
future. under appropriate condi.
tions and with aims both well cor
ceived and definite, may illumine tha
highways and byways o. human &C
tivity. The torches of understand
ing have been lighted, and they
ought to glow and encircle the globe.
at matters little the President
continued, what We apprn.se as the
outstanding accomplishment Any c-e
Of them alone would have justified the
conference. But the whole achieve
ment has so cleared the atmosphere
that it will seem like breathing taS
refreshing air Of new morn =
promise"
Pessimists Not Unnoticc6
The President showed that he had
been entirely cognizant OF the wide
spread pessimism which had prevailed
in some quarters during a stage of the
December. when the attacks on tha
four power treaty, which wes an
nounced December 10. began. untii
abou. ten days age. there were many
who pronounced the conference q
failure
This dragging period vas due 70
obvious causes. Most OF the diplomats
present operated OF definite theory
that they would not give assent to
things even of which they approves
until they could see just how certain
other things were coming out Th-s
was particularly the case with the Jap
anese.
SO that while almost every bir cues
tion at issue WAS decided save for
been necessary for the conference TO
continue intensive work just the same
in order TO get these minor details
Strengthened out.
Long Delayed by Shanturg
For instance, the much hersidcd
Shantung agreement just reached N
the last few days had resolved itself,
about Christmas time. into mere
question of bartering over the length
of time during which the Chinese
should take to pay for it, and the num-
ber and Importance Of the japanese
officials who should remain connected
with the railroad during that period
In this instance the Japanese wanted
the payment period continued as long
as possible, while the Chinese wanted
it made as short as possible
Starting off with demand that this
period should be fifteen years. thei
Japanese were confronted with the in-I
sistence of the Chinese that the-- hes
permitted to pay cash. BY Christmas
the Japanese had got below ten years.
and Tho Chinese had come up TO fous,