THE HARDING CONFERENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 13 August 1921, Page 5

THE HARDING CONFERENCE

THE PRESIDENT'S CALL

TEXT OF INVITATION,

UY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION-COPYBIGffit WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. President Harding's formal call to • and Pacific Conference has been despatched to the various Powers. The invitation reads as Allows : — "The President is deeply gratified at the cordial response to his suggestion that there should be a conference oh the subject of the limitation of armaments, in connection with which Pacific and Far Eastern questions can also be discussed. Productive, labour's staggering economic burdens are too heavy to be borne unless the . present vast public expenditures aa-e greafcly "induced. )t is idle to anticipate stability or an assurance of social justice and security and- peace w&ite "wasteftd, unproductive outlays deprive labour of its just reward 'and 'defeat £he '- reasonable expectations of progress. "The enormous disbursements on rivalries in arma'mejits manifestly 'constitute the greater part of {ha 'encumbrance on "enterprise and national prosperity, for this is not /only "withrotrt '"ecimaniic 'jtrSiincatimi, i hut is a constant menace to "the "world's -peace TatTser than an assur-! -anee of its preservation. "Yet '1 | do not expect a halt in the increasi nng -cmtlays uritess ihe Towers' largely concerned find a'satisfactory basis of , •agreement regarding 'limitation. 'The time is believed to'be opportune for the Powers to the sub"jeet diredtly at €he /conference, and jwhile the question of naval arma•merits may have 'first place in 'the /discussion, other-"armaments will not 'be "excluded: It'may also be found ■ advisable to discuss proposals where- i 'by, in the interest of" humanity, new agencies of warfare may 'be i trolled. I '"It is the -earnest 'wish of the "United States that,through'an inter-; change of views -at the conference, I 'it may be possible to find a solution <6f Tacffieand'FaT 7Eastern problems, j -Which • are toT unquestioned importance 1 at this time. "Such a common under- ; •Standing respecting matters which . 'have 'been and -are of ' international j •concern may "be of 'service :in pro- j mdting enduring friendship among i <nur peoples. "It is -not tne purpose ' •of the Tlriite'd Stages to-attempt to i •define "the scope of the discussion on | the Far "East, but to j ; 'leave it to-exchanges of opinion be- j fore the conference, in ! -that a spirit of friendship-will govern ] Jthe "final decision. 'The Yresi'de.'it ' 'therefore invites "Britain to the con-; fei-ence at "Washington on' November Ttl:" | Identical "Notes 'have been sent w S^rance, "Italy, and Japan. j