The Washington herald., 1907-03-10
SUNDAY, MARCH 10. 1907.


The New York Sun finds ground for
encouragement of the advocates of dis
armament in the reported agreement be
tween England. France. Russia, and
Japan affecting their mutual interests in
tie far East If such an agreement has
teeu actually reached. and if it is of such
"a nature as 90 have any bearing on the
Oriental military problems Of the sigma
tory powers, it undoubtedly possesses the
significance the Sun attaches To it. That
paper thinks it obvious that the reported
understanding relieves Russia from the
necessity Of maintaining large military
establishments in Eastern Siberia and
along the Indian frontier, while il re-
duccs The military burden of Great
Britain IN India. From the naval stand
point, the understanding minimizes Rus
s!a.s need Of large navy, and makes
supertluous any considerable addition TO
the British naval forces. which now eX-
coed those Of Germany and France COM
hined Under the circumstances, the
sun adds. there seems TO bee no plausi-
hIo preteXt for continuing to impose the
burden of vast military and naval arma-
luents on the physical and pecuniary re-
sources OF civilized peoples It would be
hard. indeed. TO conceive of a coniunc-
ture more favorable than is the present
year for "a considerable reduction of eN-
pendituTe in those directions.
King Edwards extraordinary success
in composing differences among the Eu-
ropean powers, and the important bear
ing his policy of reaching mutual under
standings with them has upon the main
tenance of the worlds peace, suggests
that the United States might with
equally happy issue. undertake to come
10 agreements with the only powers with
which there is any future possibility OF
an armed collision. namely, Germany and
Japan. That such agreements are not
impossible of contamination is apparent
when we consider the progress already
made IN eliminating points of friction be
tween the United States and both these
nations. Our national interests touch
those of Germany at various points I'm
the western hemisphere. The Dominican
treaty recently ratified removes all occa-
sion for differences over S8nto Domingo,
involved in that treaty VIII undoubtedly
cbviate European intervention in future
disputes like that which threatened the
sovereignty of Dominica. There remains
the question of the Danish West Indies.
the possession Of which is said to be
coveted by the Kaiser. II the German
war lord could be induced to relinquish
his ambitions in that direction and 10 ac-
Cept the Monroe doctrine as interpreted
10y Us, it would be difficult TO conceive
the possibility of conflict with Germany.
and that bugaboo. which has done duty
too long as an alarmist argument for a
big navy, would be effectualy dissipated
Our relations with Japan might be SINH
larry improved. The notion is widespread
that the growing naval power Of Japan
Is "a menace to our Philippine possessions.
and even to our Hawaiian Territory. our
naval expansion and the expenditure of
immense sums for the defense of our
Oriental colonies are sought to be justi-
fed by the assumption that conflict with
Japan is well-nigh inevitable. If. there
Ice any basis for the assumption. it seems
10 US that wise craftsmanship calls for
the removal Of the differences and APP
prehensions now regarded as warranting
preparation. M immense cost. for a pos
sible armed encounter. We see no reason
why we should not join with the powers
in an agreement for the maintenance Of
the status quo I'm the Orient-an agree
ment which might conceivably include
guarantee Of the independence of the
Philippines. should we decide to grant
the f1iipinos government of their own
il that should be thought at variance
with our traditional policy Of avoiding
eutangling alliances, we could AT least
reach aH understanding with Japan. such
an understanding. coupled with a settle
ment of all outstanding differences with
Germany would render unnecessary the
enlargement Of our fleet beyond its pres
emit size, and would constitute contri-
button toward the worlds peace worthy
To stand by the great achievements of
King Edward diplomacy