Show If EARS OF BAn BAD OlD Lord NorthclifFe Speaks of lof Big Conference V VANCOUVER B. B C. C Aug 5 pad Bad ad old days das of ot competitive armaments wo would ld follow nn any failure of ot the W WashIngton Washington Wash Wash- ington disarmament conference Lord Jord ord ous Dr British t publisher er told n a a luncheon at the the Canadian club here today It was was was' his lila first and only olly speech in Canada i Its failure would be a phe Lord Loid declared in launching strong support of or the disarmament plans I 1 am nm betraying no secrets when I 1 Isay Isay say that I believe that these two eminent emi emi- ml- ml nent nant men have ha a n avery aery very ery clear un understanding understanding under under- er- er standing of ot tho the m momentous character c of ot ga gathering at nt Washington tn North North- clifto said r referring to President HarI Harding Harding Har Har- ding dins and Secretary of Hughes I The c conference he added ma may inay maywell I well ivell prove to be the greatest and most preg pregnant ant gathering of the nations that has ever been heldI held I I 1 can cnn conceive of no work fraught I with greater possibilities of weal or of woe to civilized humanity at large Jal ho he said In England we are disarming The British army Is reduced to a figure be below below below be- be low Its peace strength before belore the war while the tho nav navy Is weaker both as as s re regards regards re- re gards big ships and personnel than it was in 1914 I These stat statements ments made In Jn the house of commons on Wednesday as to to the ther r replacing of four obsolete cruisers by new vessels of the post-Jutland post t type ipe pe do not especially alter this fact These Thes e nc new ships which are ale necessary cannot b be completed In less than five years cars There is a reaction from the tho high Idealism that animated the allies ames and associates during the war People are arc feeling a little littie disheartened ed They are wondering whether human affairs will willever ever over be settled by anything except force and whether good goodwill will reas reason n and common sense will ever er regulate the Intercourse of or nations At such a a. moment moment mo mo- ment comes President Hardings Harding's call can to toa toa toa a conference on disarmament with special reference to the Pacific If Il If the delegates to the Washington conference trul truly and consciously represent sent the desire of their respective nations nations na na- na- na T I I am convinced that an agreement agreement agree agree- ment will vill be reached and an era ra of ot peace and prosperIty will be ope opened ed Ip the Pacific Contentment will extend from the Pacific to Europe and throughout hout the world II |