Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-07
President Speaks
(continued from Pace One)

csc islands fro mthe scope of the
pact; the 1ve-power naval limita-
ton treaty; the fiye-power submar-
inc and poison gas treaty; the nine
power general far eastern treaty, and
the nine-power Chinese tariff treaty.
OF the three other treaties resulting
from the Washington negotiations,
that relating to Shantung was signed
Saturday and those dealing with cab
lie rights in zap, and ALLEGATION Of the
former German Pacific cables, are yet
to be put into final form by direct ex-
changes between the interested gov
ernments. The four-power Pacific
treaty was signed December Is.
The signing took place at the desk
of the Secretary-General,i in the GEN.
ter Of the great hollow square form
ed by the U-shaped green baize table
about which all the plenary sessions
Of the conference were held.
Amid applause from the hundreds
who had crowded into Continental
hall to see the wind-up of the confer
ence, the American delegation filed
around the U-shaped table and into
the hollow square a few minutes at
ter the session began One after an
other, Secretary Hughes, Senator
Lodge, Senator Underwood, and
Elihu Root wrote their names to the
five agreements, each touching light
ly, as token Of approval, the seals
already set opposite the spaces left
for his signature.
All of the foreign delegates were
epplauded, too, as they came up in
turn to give the concentrating ap-
prevail Of their governments.
Called in alphabetical order, the
Belgian, British. Chinese. French,
Italian, Japanese, Netherlands and
Portuguese delegations followed the
Americans, and the hand clapping
which followed conclusion of the
ceremony scarcely had began to die
out when it was renewed at the ap-
pearance of President Harding. Many
times during his address he. was APP
plauded, and wheii he finished the
delegates and spectators rose and
Joined in demonstration which end
ed only when the Rev.. William S.
Alb nl.al raised bis hand and began
the final prayer.
AS the concluding act Of their ~
weeks Of labor, the American delegates
will unite within few days in a re-
port to the president formally placing
IN his hands the five treaties ready for
Senate ratification, and a record of
the negotiations leading up to them,
1t Is expected they will be submitted
to the bodybuilding body all at
one time. and they may be taken to
the capitol by Mr.. Harding in person
before the end Of the week.
Viewing the conference in retro
spect, all the delegations renewed aft
er today's meeting their expressions
OF qualification over the results. The
burden Of their comment gave prece.
dence to the naval limitation agree
ment and the readjustments affecting
China as contributing the browning
achievements Of the negotiations.
The plenipotentiaries of Japan, who
alone among the nine nations came in
to the conference with reservations
and with apparent popular appreh en-
sion as to the outcome, Joined in the
general manifestations Of satisfaction,
In the naval treaty provision establish
Ing Notifications STATUS quo" in the
Pacific and in the four-power Pacific
pact, the Japanese delegates believe
they are taking home powerful weap-
| ons with which to check the efforts of
the militaristic party to build up ma
tional DOGGY Of an American agrees
sive war in the Far East. The Jap
anese are said to feel that, though
they entered ne conference fearing
Japan might be placed on trial before
the world for incidents in which she
took a hand in the past, they can re-
turn to Toxic. not only without loss
Of prestige. but with new pledges Of
Peace in the Orient.
Washington, Feb. 6.-(By A. P0-
The address made by President
Harding at the concluding session to-
day of the arms conference follows:
"Mr. Chairman and members of the
Conference:
"Nearly three months ago it was
my privilege to utter to you sincerest
words of welcome to the capital of
our republic, to suggest the spirit
in which you were invited, and to in
innate the atmosphere in which you
were asked to confer. In very gen.
| eral way, perhaps, I ventured to eX-
press hope for the things toward
which our aspirations led us.
To-day it is my greater privilege
and even greater pleasure to come
to make acknowledgement. 1t is one
of the supreme compensations of life
to contemplate worth while accom-
plishment.
1T cannot be otheS than seemly
for me. as the only chief of govern
ment so circumstance. as to be able
to address the conference, to speak
congratulations and offer the thanks
OF our Nation, our people; perhaps I
care volunteer to utter them for the
world. My own qualification is be-
yond my capacity to express.
This conference has wrought a
truly great achievement. 1t is haz-
ardous sometimes to speak in super
latives, and I will be restrained, but
l Will say, with every confidence, that
the faith plighted here today. kept
IN national honor, will mark the be-
ginning of new and better epoch in
human progress.
stripped to the simplest fact. what
IS the spectacle which has inspired q
new hope for the world? Gathered
ABOUT this table nine great nations
OF the earth-not all, to be sure, but
those most directly concerned with
the problems at hand-have met and