Evening Star Newspaper, July 12, 1921, Page 1

’ . . 1&«1“" the President sald he was 3 B separate ticket In the fleld. WEATHER. Cloudy. probably local showers to- right and tomorrow; no change in temperature. Temperature for twen- ty-four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 83, at 2 p.m. yesterday; low- « the corridor. «|'the debris up to a late ho iy after- e . ur this est, 71, at 3 a.m. today. Full report on page 14. - @he Closing New York Stocks, Page 18. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION bening - Star. Member of the Asvociuted Press [ The Associated Press fe ex-lumvely cotitled %o the use for republicatior of all aews dispatcics || credited to it or mot otherwise credited In this vaper and also the local news published berein. !| All rights of publication of special H Qispatches herein are also reserved. [q i Yesterday’s Net Girculation, 85,179 No. - 28,198. Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. PRESIDENT TELLS SENATENEW WATER PLANS BONUS FOR VETERANS NOW 10 SAVE THOUSANDS WOULD IMPERIL TREASURY FOR BUSINESS MEN States the Situation in Person to " Legislators. SEES OBLIGATION { TO SERVICE MEN Fears Effect of Mod- , est Aid Would Be | Peril to Jobs. Enactment at the present moment of adjusted compensation legislation for veterans of the world war would “greatly imperil the financial stability of our country,” President Harding nold the Senate today in the second {address he has made to that body his administration. d“};':e‘ry obiigation is to the disabled and dependent, the President said, and .zhe executive branch owed it to the | country “frankly to state the difficul- I ties we daily are called upon to meet. jand tne added peril this measure would bring.” Indebtedness Little Heeded. #Our land has its share of the finan- ®fal chaos and_ industrial depression .of the world,” the President said. “We ttle heeded the growth of indebted- ess or the limits of expenditure dur- & the war because we could not stop {0 count the cost. Our one thought en was the winning of the war and '$he survival of the nation.” After a four-month survey of con- §@itions “which would stagger all of us re it not for our abiding faith in y persuaded that three things were ential to restoration. “These are,” he continued. “the re- lzllml. including reduction, of our in- rnal taxation, the refunding of our war debt and the adjustment of our goreign loans. Problems Must Be Settled. Tt is vitally necessary to settle |tmese problems betore adding to our Treasury any such burden as is con- templated in the pending (soldier _bonus) bill.” Mr. Harding said it was “unthink- able” to expect business revival while maintaining “the excessive taxes of war” and “quite as unthinkable” to reduce tax burdens while committing | the Treasury to additional obliga- {tions ranging “from three to five billion_dollars.” Mr. Harding pointed out that the | Eovernment now was obliged to pay | 53 per cent interest on short-time | Joans, and that definite obligations | of seven and a half billigns are to mature within two. years following. “Overburdening of the Treasury now means positive disaster in years immediately before us,” he sald. Applauded in Chamber. The President arrived at the Cap- itol a few minutes before 2 o'clock {#nd went to the President’s room im- i mediately off the Senate chamber. After a quorum of the Senate had been called. Senator Lodge, the re- yublican leader, moved that the Vice Tresident appoint a committee to escort the President to the Senate chamber. Vice President Coolidge appointed Senator Lodge and Senator Underwood of Alabama. the democratic leader. As the President entered the Senate <hamber the members of the Senate #nd the occupants of the gallery arose d apnlauded. The applause was gen- al on the democratic side of the chamber as well as on the republican e, and lasted for about a minute. Galleries Are Crowded. There were no special cards of ad- * mission issued for the Senate gal- | leries, although the news had spread yaround that the President would come to the Capitol” to address the Senate at 2 o'clock. The galleries i were crowded when the hour arrived iand many persons were standing in Mrs. Harding occupied ra front row seat in the gallery. Just before the President made his appearance in the chamber the Vice , President laid before the Senate the ! soldier bonus bill, as the unfinished { business, whizh caused a ripple of laughter to pass through the cham- | ber, as it was known that the Presi- ident had come to urge postponement of action on the bonus bill. The President read his address to the Senate slowly and deliberately. Tt was listened to with close atten- tion by the senators and by many members of the House who had come over to the Senate to hear the Presi- dent. Senators Listen Carefully. Among those in the galleries was William G. McAdoo, former Secretary of the Treasury. . The President finished his address at 2:20. The conclusion was the scene for. another outburst of ap- plause, “and the whole assemblage stood while Senator Lodge and Sen- ator Underwood escorted the Presi- dent from the chamber. The President’s address was given ‘the most respectful attention by the . senators. He proceeded from begin- ning to end, however, withofit inter- ruption or applause. . Almost immediately after the con- ‘clusion of the speech, Senator Pen- Tose, chairman of the finance commit- tee, moved to recommit the bonus bill to the Senate finance committee. MAY FORM “LILY BLACKS.” Negroes Threaten Separate Ticket if Excluded From Convention. RICHMOND, Va. July 12.—Negro republicans, who wére excluded Sat- urday night from the city convention of the “Lily Whites,” met last night and decided to send a contesting dele- gation to the state G. O. P. convention, wWhich convenes in Norfolk Thursday. Jt was announced that, if they fail %o secure seats a state convention of ¥Lily Blacks” will be called to \put Thomas Newsome, negro, of this , says that Newport News will back the Richmond negroes in the fight for negro representation at the yepublican state convention in Nor- olk. Newsome and several other ewport News negroes will attend the filnvlnunn as “delegates” from this ¥ —_— MANY KILLED UNDER WALL fEleven Bodics Already Takxen Out s at Dax, France. DAX, France, July 12.—Many per- gons were buried by a falling wall dur- .4ng a fire today which destroyed a mer- eantile establishment he IEenator Milies-Le Vrotx © et BY Eleven bodies had been taken from TEXT OF SPEECH OF PRESIDENT TO SENATE ON BONUS The President’'s address to the Senate follows: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate: There has come to my attention the pending unfinished business be- fore the Senate, and it is an im- perative duty to convey to you the probable effect of the passage at this time of the proposed act pro- viding for adjusted compensation to our service men in the world war. If this measure could be made effective at the present time without disaster to the 'nation’s MAnances and without hindrance to #mperative readjustment of our taxes it would presént an entirely different question than that which i1s before you. In a personal as well as a public manner, which ought to be a plight of good faith, I have commended the policy of generous treatment of the nation's defenders, not as @ part of any contract, not as the payment of a debt which is owing. but as a mark of the nation's gratitude. Every obligation is to the disabled and dependent. In such reference as has been made to general compen- sation there has been a reserva- tion as to the earliest consistent time for such action if it is taken. Even without such reservation, however, a modified view would be wholly justifiable at the present moment, because the enactment of the compensation bill in the midst of the struggle for readjustment and restoration woyld hinder every effort and greatly imperil the financial stability of our country. More, this menacing effort to ex- pend billions in gratuities will im- peril our capacity to discharge our first obligations to those we must not fail to aid. Favors Frank Statement. I am addressing the Senate di- rectly because the problem is im- mediately yours, as your unfinished business, but the executive branch of the government owes it to both houses of Congress and to the country frankly to state the diffi- culties we daily are called upon to meet, and the added peril this measure would bring. Our land has its share of the financial chaos amd the industrial depression of the world. We little heeded the growth of indebtedness or the limits of expenditure during the war, because we could not stop to count the coi Our one thought then was the winning of the war, and the survival of the nation. We borrowed and loaned—individuals to the nation and the government to other governments, and to those who served the nation, with little thought of settlement. It was relatively easy then, because na- tional life was at stake. In the sober aftermath we face the order of reason, rather than act amid the passions of war, and our own land and the wdrld are facing problems never solved before. There can be no solution unless we face the grim truths and seek to solve them in resolute devotion to duty. After a survey of more than four months, contemplating conditions which would stagger all of us were it not for our abiding faith in America, I am fully persuaded that three things are essential to the very beginning of the restored order of things. These are the re- vision, including reduction, of our internal taxation, the refunding of our war debt, and the adjustment of our foreign loans. It is vitally necessary to settle these problems before adding to our Treasury any such burden as is contemplated in the pending bill. Taxes Must Be Reduced. It 1s unthinkable to expect a business revival and the resump- tion of the normal ways of peace while maintaining the excessive taxes of war. It {s quite as unthink- able to reduce our tax burdens while committing our Treasury to an additiondl obligation which ranges from three to five billions of dollars. The precise figures no one can give. If it is conceivably true that only two hundred mil- lions a year will be drawn annually from the Treasury in the few years immediately before us, the bestowal is too inconsequential to be of real value to the nation's defenders; and if the exercise of the option should call for cash running into billions, the depression in finance and industry would be so marked that vastly more harm than good ‘would attend. Our government must undertake no obligation which it does not in- tend to meet. No government flat will pay our bills. The exchanges of the world testify today to that erroneous theory. We may rely on the sacrifices of patriotism in war, but today we face markets, and the effects of supply and demand, and the inexorable laws of credits in time of peace. Sees Disaster in Overburden. At the very moment we are obliged to pay 5% per cent in- terest for government short-time loans to care for our floating in- debtedne: a rate on government borrowing, in spite of tax-emption, which ought to prevail in private transactions for the normal inter- est charges in financing our indus- try and commerce. Definite obli- gations amounting to seven and a half billions in war savings cer- .~ AContinued on Page 3 Columa 4 m.. U mwumnammflm to in Stillman case, t o3 Radical Changes Contem- plate Improved Service for Downtown Section. INCREASE IN PRESSURE WOULD CUT FIRE RISKS Officials Working on System to Bring About Effective and Economical Distribution. Radical changes in the District's water distribution system, contem- plating a new service for the busi- ness section, are in prospect today in connection with conferences soon to be held between District and federal gavernment officials. Local water depaftment officials, it is learned, have been working for some time on plans designed to bring about the most effective and economical distribution of water pos- sible in conjunction with the build- ing of the new conduit from Great Falls. They expect to submit their recommendations to Maj. M. C. Tyler, who has been designated to bulld the condult, early next week. Long-Felt Need. It _the recommendations are adopted Washington business men will score a victory in their long fight for increased water pressure in the downtown area of the capital. Details of the plans to be suggested by the local authorities have not been announced, but it is understood they are based on calculations for increasing the pressure in the business sectlon from forty-six to seventy-two pounds. In the event a sqventy-two-pound pressure is reached, fire hazards not only will be greatly lessened, it is pointed out, but owners of large business houses will be relieved of the cost of pumping, which_runs into thousands of dollars annually. Appropriation Necessary. It is understood an appropriation will be required to put through the scheme the local officials have in mind, but it is belleved the economies which can be shown for it will convince Con- gress of its desirability. It also would be necessary to amend the Tyler plan, known as Potomac project E, which was the basis of the appropriation made recently by Con- gress for the new conduit, but water department officials are confldent they will be able to convince Maj. Tyler that the changes proposed will pro- duce desirable resuits. ‘The Tyler plan proposes constrie- tion of an additional filtration piant on the Dalecariia reservation and the-tue stallation of a.large main froni-thls point to a new distribut e, to be looafed in the vicinity of the bu- reau of standards, which would ll‘lp‘gly the second high service. From this reservoir water would be pumped also into the third high-service mains. Cosnt of Plant. Maj. Tyler estimates the cost of building ‘the filtration plant and a pumping plant at Dalecarlia rese: voir at $1,821,000. The cost of build- ing a distribution reservoir and of providing the distribution mains is estimated at $1,300,000. These. items are included in the total cost ot $9,. 523,000, which will represent the new conduit and its connecting equipment when completed. It is not believed the plan to be sub- mitted by the District authorities will call for any material changes in the general features of the Tyler scheme, but, rather, will propose an elabora- tion of the plan in certain directions which indicates results of far-reach- ing benefit to water consumers. WEALTHY OIL MAN’S WIFE KILLED IN AUTO GBASH Mrs. J. G. McCaskey of Pittsburgh on Way to Visit Five Children ‘When Car Overturns. CLEVELAI Ohio, July 12.—Mrs. Mary Ashford McCaskey, forty-four years of age, wife of J. G. McCaskey, millionaire Pittsburgh oil man, was instantly killed yesterday when the McCaskey automobile, en route from Pittsburgh to a summer camp at Miti- wanga, Ohio, skidded and overturned in a ditch near here. 8 Mrs. McCaskey was pinned under the car and her neck broken. Her husband was Thrown some distance and suffered a broken collar bone. The McCaskeys were on Aheir way to visit their five children,”who are at the McCaskey summer home at Miti- wanga with Mr. McCaskey's mother. GERMAN SHIPYARDS BURN. BERLIN, July 12.—The fire which broke out in the Blohm and Voss shipyards at Hamburg last night caused damage amounting to many millions of marks. The timber sheds with great quantities of building mat- ter were destroyed. Today’s News in Paragraphs Soldiers’ Home and city authorities to make further drowning accidents im- possible. Page 1 Proposed new water plans contemplate improved system in business dis- Page 1 ‘Washington navy yard plans to sav 2,000,000 and keep 1,000 men on the Job by cutting off one work day Weekly. Pago 1 De Valera on way to London - ley; Orangemen celebrate. D“P“n‘:’e"l U. 8. warships ordered to leave Tam- pico. 3 Page 2 Board of Trade soon to report stand taken on street railway situation. Wood-Forbes mission given ovatis 1n = lon given Cebu, P. L P 42 trict. Mine workers’ chief asks Gov. Morgan to help settle West Virginia coal strike. Page 3 . 8. transport takes aircraft experts from Washington to witness bombing tests at Atlantic fleet's grounds. 7 Brothers swept to death in sewer. Page 13 Mrs. Kaber’s sister says she was insane Page at time of murder.. 13 Secretary Hoover discusses U. economic depression before shoe u&a leather men. Page Samuel Gompers to help local :labor Snions watéh legialation. = Page ~“House of mystery” raided by police. : Page 14 SAM’S TROTSKY DENIES CHARGE OF SECRETARY HUGHES, RUSSIA IS A VACUUM By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1921. RIGA, Esthonia, July 12.—The Russian reply to Secretary of State Hughes' letter, addressed to Sam- uel Gompers. president of the American Federation of Labor, several months ago, has been made by Leon Trotsky in a report on the economic condition of the world read before the internationale. Trotsky attacks Mr. Hughes for CLE LOCAL NAVY YARD 10 SAVE §2.000000 Big Gun Factory Would Cut One Day Off to Kegp 1,000 Men at Work. Saving of more than $2,000,000 in saying that the bolsheviki had wages and at the same time prevent-| tyrned Russia into a gigantic ing the impending discharge of ap-| vacuum. According to Trotsky, the decline in Russian economy is due to the successive mobilizations in the civil and imperial wars. It is true, he says, that the soviet government has obilized fewer persons than the czar did, but the old regime retalned the skilled workers in the mills and factories, filling the army with young men of the nobility, the middle classes, students and professional officers. The soviet army is composed main- 1y of workers, and there- con upon by France, Great Britain and the Thited States hit industry harder. Trotsky closes by saying: ‘The fact that ‘Russia, torn from the world and shaken and exhausted by imperialist and civil wars, could withstand three vears of wars of intervention; could clothe, feed and arm an army numbering at times more than 5.000,000 soldiers, is nothing short of a miracle. No other regime under similar condi- tions could show 8o much vitality.” TURK LEADER ASKS ABSURDCONDITIONS Offers to Meet British Only After Impossible Demands Are Accepted. BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. By Oable to The Star and Chicago Dally News. Copyright, 1021, T CONSTANTINOPLE, Turkey, July 12. —The Pope’s efforts to effect a peacetul arrangement between the Turks and the allies have been abandoned. Though there have been no British missions to Angora, Mustapha Kemal Pasha has used the offices of two trustworthy former British officers who have been on private business in his capital to.convey| to Gen. Harrington, chief commander of the allies® forces in Turkey, hi sire for a meeting. Wants Concessfons First. On their return to Constantinople these two officers took ‘Kemal's request along more tha O with his demands. After a consultation ‘While it is desirous of ~,Of the cabinets of the allies. it was ploves the benefit of the Saturady half-|decided to propose that Kemal meet holiday, on the side of those who must!Gey “Harrington on board a British watch the expenditures in the gun facy| warship at Ineboll. The Turkish war tory, it must be pointed out that to close | minister transmitted this proposal to on Monday, as proposed by many of the | Kemal, who, to the great us! shment employes, would necessitate a shut-down | of the representatives of the allies, re- of & day and a half, while closing onfplied that he was willing to meet Gen. Saturday would really -only slow down|Harrington on condition that the fol- the work for half & day while permit-|lowing demands were accepted in prin- ting the government to make a cut of afciple beforehand: day's wages. 1. That Turkey shall be restored 1n order to prevent the discharges and | to its frontiers as they existed before at the same time keep within the appro-| the war. Drintions and get the necessary amount| 2. Complete economic independence, Bf work done, it is probable that the|including the abelition of capitula- Saturday dlosing plan, which stops the | tions and zones of influence. . plant iy half a day, will be decided| 3. Complete admniistrative independ- ‘upon. STEPFATHER FINDS TWO SONS .DEAD ON PORCH Father of Boys “Was Killed in ‘World War—Coroner to Inquire. By the Associated Press. * ALBANY, Ga., July 12.—Two little boys, Robert and Isalah Temple, ten and four years old, respectively, were found dead with bullet wounds in their bodies, by their stepfather, G. M. Hudson, whert their mother was in town shopping today. The stepfather said he found the boys dead on the veranda of the Hud- son home, three miles south of Al- bany on the River road. He sald he £,und his own pistol beside the bodies. The_boys had’ evidently been shot w_ll:_g: 'filfl were -eating watermelon. proximately 1,000 employes in all ! branches is expected to be made at the Washington navy vard by closing down that big gun’ factory for one working day a week, it was learned today. Cutting of the appropriations for the locxl gun factory, where the big guns_for the shipg of the United Btates Navy are made, necessitated a qut- tn the force, but those in charge were hot -disposed to throw a large number of people out of work It ther: were any other way out of it. Off cers and civillan officials of the yard have been working on the prob- lem, believing that much distress might result from a large discharge, determhined to suggest the closing of the plant for one day each week. Saturday Is Proposed, Saturday was the day selected for the closing, but it was said that while the employes are desirous of having anything done which will prevent a large discharge in the force. they do not want the plant closed on Sature day, as that would take away from them a whole day’s pay for a half day they are supposed to work. An official of the yard said that a number of the employes favored the closing on Monday. which is a full working day. This, it was pointed out further, would give the employes the benefit of the Saturday half-holi- day with a full day’s pay. and at the same time would accomplish the pur- pose of allowing the yard to make a two-million-dollar wage cut for the current fiscal year. The plan for the closing”is rapidly being perfected, and it is understood that it will be sent immediately to the Navy Department for approval, and if prompt action is taken the plan is exDected to be put into effect this week. Prompt action will be taken one way or the other soon—that is. either the discharges will have to be made or the one-day closing resorted to. In view of the fact that appeals have been made to the Navy Depart- ment by workmen to find some way of overcoming the impending discharges, it is the bellef that the one-day clos- ing plan will be approved there. Selecting Those Who May Go. Emploves of the navy yard now are ‘working on the lists of emploves, select- ing those who must go if the one-day closing plan is not approved. There are 7,000 employes in the navy yard, draw- ing an average salary of $6 a day, and the proposed closing would save the gov- ernment more than $2,000,000. enc 4. Complete financial independence. In order to avoid misunderstanding and eventual misinterpretations the British embassy issued at once ‘a communique pointin€ out that Kemal had approached the allies on his own initiative, and that the allies had agreed that Gen. Harrington should meet the nationalist leader and .ex- change views solely on the’ military situation. The writer understands that the Kemalist demands produced a painful impression on all the repre- senitatives of the allies. These de- mands are reguarced as impossible even by those who urge most strongly an understanding with the. Turks at almost any price. GREEKS OCCUPY TOWNS. A‘hml Hears a Fifteen-Mile Ad- ‘vance Is Made Against Turks. ATHENS, July 12.—Official confirma- tion of the beginning of the Greek offen- sive agdinst the Turkish nationalists was supplied in a government statement late last night. This announced a pre- liminary movement in the operation. The Greeks, said the statement, ad- vanced fifteen miles, occupying the towns of Yeni-Shehr and Hassan-Pasha, east of Brussa, and Jenikioy, north father of the bays was killed.in France during the war. His name was ry Temple and his home was in Co- Officers 'are seeking 'clues. to the muyrderer, &nd the o scens Lo DISARMAMENT PARTY. WASHINGTON, D. -C, TUESDAY, JULY” 12, 1921 —-TWENTY-SIX PAGES. o — MOVE T0 PREVENT OTHER DROWNINGS Soldiers’ Home and District Authorities Will Cover All Sewers on Grounds. Two investigations were started to- day for the purgose of preventing a recurrence of the tragedy yesterday, in which two boys were washed into a sewer in the Soldiers’ Home grounds and drowned. P One inquiry was begun by Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, commandant of the Home, who gave orders this morn- ing that some means must be de- vised for protecting chlidren who play in the park from these open catch basins. Simultaneously, the District sewer ent sent inspestors to the Sol- diers’ Home grounds to gather all the details of yesterday’s accident and to choopurate with the home duthori- es. Drains to Be Covered. “I have given orders,” said Gen. Bliss, “that the entrances to these drains must be covered with screen or a grating of some kind in a way that will be satisfactory to the Dis- trict sewer authorities.” The commandant stated that he was informed by other officers at the home that the question of placing grates on the drains was considered some vears ago. He said he was informed that at that time fear was expressed that gratings would cause branches of trees and other debris to accumu- late at the entrances. The rush of water following these ® might, it was feared, result in dam- age to the sewers. Funds on Hand for Work. Gen. Bliss said he believes some means can be found of protecting these places, however, and that he intends to see that action is taken. The general said that he can obtain from the board of commissioners of the home the funds required to do the work. According to the commandant, there are two of these open catch-basins in the home grounds. TARIFF RULE VOTE DOWNS DEMOCRATS ‘The House today adopted, over almost solid democratic opposition, the special rule governing consideration of the Ford- ney tariff bill. The vote on the rule was 222 to 100, with four members voting present. Representative Garrett of Tennessee, acting democratic leader, declared the rule’s adoption meant that the House voted its power to the ways and means committee. Gag Methods Charged. “It is the same sort of a rule under which the Payne-Aldrich bill was put through,” he said, “and ordinary mem- ‘bers will have no chance to offer amend- ments.” Representative Snell, republican, of New York said the minority side al- ways deemed it necessary to find fault with the acts of the party in control, while® Representative Fess, republican,’ of Ohio, said the rule was the “most liberal and broadest” of any ever brought in for a special purpose. Representative Cockran, democrat, New York, attacked the effort to “force through this Fordney device under gag rule.” % Wealthy vs. Hungry. “We thank God you are going be- fore the people with this bill to remedy specific evils,” he said. “You will either be judged by the wealthy, who will reward you for the protec- tion it affords, or by the cry of the hungry, who will rise up and over- helm ;you.” 'Kr. C’ackun said the power of vest- ing legislation in the hands of half a dozen men apparently was done to keep “the House from making a fool of itself.” ~WOMEN CAN CHEW. ‘Wisconsin First State to Give Full Legal Equality. 'MADISON, Wis., July 12.—Wisconsin women gained.every right possessed by male citizens under civil law when Gov. John J. Blaine signed the bill placing. this state as the first in the Union to extend full legal equality to its new voters, The governor, with a black quill pen given him by the National Women's Party, attached this signature to the measure, which removes every re- striction, even giving women the right to “wear trousers and chew to- bacco.” as senatord sald in the-bill in the legislature. . back-ups | i REDUCING OF ILloyd George andli Briand Likely to Attend Parley. {DEPUTIES CHEER Decision as Note Starts to U. S. Embassy. By the Associated Press, ence on restriction of armaments has been favorably received i Italian official circles, enpecinl- 1y by Premier Bonom! and Foreign Minister Della Torretta, it wan dicated today. This lemds to the belief that Italy undoubtedly Wwould accept an invitation to such a conference. By the Associated Press. PARIS, July 12.—The French gov- ernment will accept with pleasure and without reserve an invitation to a conference on the limitation of armaments. This is stated in a letter sent to the American embassy here by {the government this morning for President Harding. Premier Briand later announced publicly in the chamber of deputies that the government would eagerly accept such an invitation. The premier expressed thanks to President Harding for “his noble itiat've,” while the chamber broke intc weers, She.don Whitehouse, counselor of he American embassy, said thiz after- noon that the reply of the French government had been cabled to Wash- ington during the morning. There was as yet no indication, he added. when the formal invitation would be presented to France. Note Sent to U. S. Embasay. The attitude of France was official- ly_made known through the foreign office, in a note from M. de Peretti de la Rocca. director of political af- fairs. stating that France would be happy to receive an invitation to a disarmament conference in Washing- ton. It was while the political di- rector's note was on its way to the American embassy that the chamber of deputies was unanimously plauding the announcement by Pre- mier Briand of the cordial attitude of France toward the-prospective in- vitation. The senate, in its turn, was aroused to unusual enthusiasm in_approval of President Harding’s idea when the ~announcement regarding the government's action was made in that body. It was said_at the foreign office {that Premier Briand probably would represent France at the proposed conference, if circumstances permit it, and that whoever was sent would g0 with the idea of co-operating wholeheartedly in any scheme for disarmament compatible with the se- curity of France. No Reservations Made. The French government makes no reservations regarding the proposed conference, being willing, it is stated, to discuss the limitation of land as well as naval armament. always with the proviso that ample protection be assured against any further even- tual aggression from the east. The general impression made upon France by President Harding's move is most favorable, as indjcated by expressions on all sides. Financlal circles are particularly appreciative, in view of the prospect held out of great economies in the maintenance of the navy and the army and the consequent relief of pressure upon the treasury. “France,” said Premier Briand, in his address to the chamber, “replies eagerly to the suggestion for a con- ference, from which we may -hope will come the final peace of the world.” The whole house broke into pre- longed applause. M. Briand added: “I am sure I interpret the senti- ment_of the chamber when I thank the head of state who had taken this noble initiative and who thought at once of associating our country with it. It is a homage rendered the pacificsentiments France has al- ways shown in the gravest circum- stances. I do not need to tell you that the French goverament accepts the invitation eagerly. It sees in the idea the possibility of accords which, as regards the Pacific ocean, cannot be idifferent to us, because of our great interests there. It sees, also, the occasion to prove once again that our country is attached ardently to the cause of peace.” Will Go Open-Minded. In concluding, the premier said: “France will g0 to the conference without mental reservations or ul- terior motives. She will seek every means_to limit armaments, military as well as naval, in order to diminish the frightful charges that weigh upon the peoples, at the same time safe- guarding, it is well understood, our own national security. The govern- ment experiences particular pleasure in the fact that the conference will be presided over by President Harding.” Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, was present |in_the senate today 'when Premier Briand made his announcement of the French government's willingness to receive President Harding's Invitation to a_disarmament conference. Later Mr. Butler talked with many of the senators, and this afternoon he had an appointment to see President Mil- lerand.\ These talks followed similar omes with Prenler Lloyd George at Chequers court during the last week end, and with Premier Briand and other French leaders yesterday. Mr. Butler said this afternoon it seemed to him that both public and official opinion in Europe welcomed President Harding’s action “with more énthusiasm and relief than any event since the armistice.” 3 “There is a very general feeling, he added, “that this conference may be the beginning of the general con- structive policy in international af- fairs ‘which President Harding has been developin GREY TO LEAD BRITISH. Imoy,d George Also Expected to At- tend Conference Here. LONDON, July 12.—Viscount Grey of Fallodon, who was British secretary of state for Yoreign affairs when the world war began. may, says the Daily Mail, lead Great Britain's delegates to the dis- armament conference to be held in Washington_as a_result of President Washington_as a_result of President (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.). i 1 TWO CENTS. FRENCH ACCEPT PROPOSAL TO DISARM AND SUGGEST LAND FORCES Conference Here of Nations Not To Be Secret CALL ON POWERS { PREMIER’S REPLY | TO EXPEDITE STEP o Announced Far East Problemt Must Be Solved if Move Succeeds. Favorable responses are under- stood to have been received to- day from all but one of the pow- | ers to which the United States sufgested a conference on reduc- tion of armaments and related questions. Although so far there has been nothing in the negotiations as to details, administration officials have been so encouraged by the attitude of other nations that they have already given some at- tention to such questions as the date on which the meeting will l begin. One suggestion promi- nently under consideration is that November 11, Armistice day, be selected. BY DAVID LAWRENCE. The disarmament conference of the great powers to be held here next autumn will not be a secret conclave. Although the invitations were limit- ed to Great Britain, Japan, Ttaly, France, the United States and China, the other nations of the world will kave an opportuntiy to keep posted on what is being done and to offer concurrently, through diplomatic channels. any suggestions or ideas bearing on a solution of the prob- lems that come up for discussion. The government here feit that by asking the group known as the prin- cipal allied and associated powers more progress could be made than by attempling to have a.big assem- bly. which might resolve itself into a debating .sgelety and get mo re- sults. As one official spokesman of the ldmmmuon;ghrllfld it teday, the conference called by Mr. Harding is not “a shout in the air,* but an attempt “to get results.” Far East Must Be Settled. The same official who, of course, is conversant with every Dhase of our foreign policy, made it clear that it was perfectly useless to talk about disarmament {f the problems of the far east were mnot settled to every- body’s satisfaction. He pointed out that so long as people felt insecure about developments in the Pac | there would be no inclination to d pense with nayal armament. In oth words, when the sources of possible friction and war were removed once for all in the Pacific there would be much more rapid progress toward disarmament. This, indeed, is the answer made by government officials to the criticism that the disarmament conference should not have included a discussion of far eastern prob- lems and that the tangles over the latter would delay and obstruct the disarmament movement itself. But the government takes just the opposite view—namely, until the gquegtions pending with Japan and China and the European and American nations over the Far East are out of the way, nobody will make a sincere move toward limiting armament. Endeavor to Achlieve Results. ‘The fact is the conference called by President Harding is an endeavor to achieve practical results in the field of diplomacy at the same time thatan agreement_on naval expense is tempted. Heretofore the main excu: for armament has been some specter of war. The United States govern- ment, along with the British and French and Itallan governments, which have interests in the far east, now will seek to establish a series of common principles, =0 as to make it impracticable for Japan or ‘China to get tangled up in disputes that will involve the powers across the Pacific. The problem of Russia injects it- self incidentally with u big interroga- tion mark. Heretofore in every far eastern dispute handled by the great powers, whether it included an ex- | pression of opinion on the open door- commercially, such as Secretary John Hay elicited, or whether it touches questions of territorial integrity, Rus- a and Germany were always con- ited. In fact, they were | principals in the discussion. But Germany is powerless. She has been ordered disarmed by the treaty of Versfilles. She is con- sidered impotent =% far as jeopard- izing anybody's inf€rests in the far east. As for Russia, none of the big powers, least of all the United States. feels that Russian co-operation at this time can ttained. Out of Family Circle. Russia has put herself out of the family circle so far as having a voice in the decisions of the powers is con- | cerned. = But Russia will eventually be bound just the same as will be Germany to subscribe to the general principles t! will be evolved in the parley on far easgern questions here next fall. Something more specific and more binding than John Hay's open-door policy, though founded on the same ideas of equity and justice, will be formulated with all the sol- emnity of a treaty obligation. Pos- sibly it will not be a mere exchan; of notes, for that process has its d! advantages in the fact that the chang: ing administration can _ignore th action of their predecessors, but prob- ably treaty or convention -will be negotiated . which will it. un- necessary for the British to rensw their alliance with the Japanese. It will put all nations on a par and the so-called “sphere of -in- as ‘well as the “special in: terests” which were back of th Anglo-Japanese alliance. Permitted by League Covenant. Such a treaty or convention would be a “regional” understanding,” and as such is permitted by the covenant of -the league of nations. While America is not a member of the league, nevertheless all the other powers are bound by the covenant not to make any treaty inconsistent with that document, and the making of a regional understanding is wholly in line with the principles of the cov- enant. The Objest of ‘the regional understanding will be not to protect spécial interests, byt to promote the % aivd %