3 DECEMBER 1921, Page 2

It-was stated at Washington last week that the President had

suggested the holding of further conferences which might develop hereafter into " an association of nations." He hinted that the decisions of the present Conference might be left to rest upon " a gentleman's agreement" among the Powers, instead of being embodied in a formal treaty which would have to run .the gauntlet in the Senate. Mr. Harding apparently did not enter into details about his proposed ".association of nations," but we may presumably infer that he is coming to recognize the value of the 'principle underlying the League of Nations. The problem for the Allies is to modify and simplify the Covenant so that America may be able to enter the League. This may take a long time, but the problem is by no means insoluble.