Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-17
Arms Conference Ends and Its
First Results Appear in an
Order by DENLY.
STOPS WORK ON Big SHIPS
Pope Plus XII Is Crowned In ST. Pc
ters Basilca-secretary Weeks
Shows Flaws in Ford's Muscle
Shoals Offer-Devising
Revenue for Soldiers
Bonus,
BY EDWARD w. PickARD

a CElEVEMENTS Of the conference
4 \ on ornaments slgnaize "a new
era Of understanding in which prepar-
edness for war will yield to moral pre-
paredness for peace. said President
Harding to the delegates at their last
session on Monday.
"Your achievement is supreme" he
continued, because no seed of conflict
has been sown; no reaction in regret or
resentment ever can justify resort to
arms. You have written the first de-
liberate and effective expression Of
great powers, In the conscientiousnes
of peace. Of wars utter futility. and
challenged the sanity of competitive
preparation for each others destruc-
ton"
Although the President made no ref
erence directly to the hope he had pre-
viously expressed that an association
of nations would come from the CON
ference, he predicted Il continuance of
international discussion TO carry for
ward the work.
Before Mr.. Harding made his adj
dress the five treaties agreed upon by
the conference were formally signed
and when the President concluded
Secretary of State Hughes declared
the conference adjourned sine die.
Now 1t is up to the United States
senate TO put the stamp of approval
on the work accomplished by the con.
ference President Harding indicated
that he would transmit to 1t without
committee of the senate. which met
with him Tuesday evening. promised
that they should have the right of way
until the tariff bill is reported The
debate probably will be prolonged, but
there seems little reason to doubt that
the treaties will be ratified.
The first tangible results of the con-
ference appeared Wednesday. when
Secretary of the Navy DENLY, under
direction of the President ordered the
suspension of work on eight battle
ships and six battle cruisers now I'M
der construction, pending final action
on the naval treaty. When the treaty
has been ratified the contracts for the
ships will be Cancelled. The building
operations stopped by Secretary Den
bys order have been costing the gov
eminent about S5OO0,OO0 month. OF
the eight battleships, one will be COM
pleted later-either the West Virginia
or the Washington. The Colorado.
which Is almost completed and is not
included In the list, also will be fin
ished. Two of the battle cruisers are |
to be completed as airplane carriers.
OF the foreign countries represented
In the conference the only one where
there seems to be any organized oppO-
sltion to the treaties is Japan. Baron
Sakamoto is leading the opposition in
the house of peers and criticized Sc
verely the agreements reached. Pre-
mler Takahashl and his ministers met
the attack ably. The premier said
that the government did not claim the
conference was an unqualified success,
viewed from an individual standpoint,
but that 1t did believe, with the other
powers, that the agreements reached
were the first step toward real and
lasting peace and would lead TO fu-
ture understanding for the total aboli-
ton of defense equipments.
Japan, like the United States, has
stopped construction work ON Its new
capital ships.