The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-30
REDUC1ION OF ARsIA9aENTs.

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The civilized world is expanding
$500, 100000 yearly on armaments.
Nations would be relatively as well
armed with ten million dollars of ar
mament eoch as with hundreds of
millions eacn, as Is now the case; and
relative safety is really the basis on
which the present bloated ornaments
have grown UP. The eight great pow
|ers. Germany, United States, Austria
Hungary. France, Great Britain. Italy,
Japan and Russia. possess nine-tenths
Of the naval ornaments in commits
sion, Of a total valuation of nearly
81. 900, 900, 900, while the other one
tenth is owned by only twelve nations.
and nearly thirty sovereign states are
entirely without naval armament of
military efficiency. The same general
proportions are true of the armies OF
the world. The question OF bloated
ornaments is essentially ore for the
eight powers to solve between them
selves.
Each of the powers has repeatedly
and officially regretted the necessity
Of maintaining ornaments at their
present day size, according to the
World Peace Foundation. Each power
has claimed that it's own war prepara-
tons were necessary and denied the
necessity of equal preparations on the
part OF the others. II only the inter-
ested party sees justification for its
action, which is continuously unjusti-
fled in the opinion Of its fellows there
Is a strong presumption of falsity in
the claims of all. Each of the powers
has repeatedly and officially expressed
its willingness to undertake measures
Of relief that would be fair to all con-
cerned. Armaments are never main
tanned for themselves alone, but for
alleged needs Of defense, each power
having repeatedly and officially dis
claimed any intention of aggression.
If. therefore, the defense Of any ma
ton reducing ornaments were in
sured, If in the actual event of attack
none stood to lose by the reduction.
all would, on their own statements.
gladly begin such reduction, because
it would seem as safe and as logical
to them as the present orgy of arming
to the teeth. The solution OF the ques-
ton Of securing halt in armament
therefore appears to be the question
of insuring the reducing nation against
attack on that account. Why then
should not the great powers enter into
a joint convention to the effect that:
They engage to further by all means
within their power the reduction of
ornaments and Jointly and severally
agree to come to the aid of any one
Of the contracting parties with the
forces at their disposal in the event
of any one of them being attacked on
account of a reduction Of ornaments
individually undertaken.
The question whether an individual
reduction of ornaments is the occa-
sion Of an attack against any one OF
the parties shall be submitted to an
international commission Of inquiry in
accordance with the terms Of The
Hague convention; the establishment
of an international commission for the
purpose shall be obligatory upon the
request OF any one Of them.
The contracting parties engage to
postpone any resort to force until the
International commission Of inquiry
shall have rendered its report. Viola
ton Of this engagement by one of the
parties shall release the others from
| its provisions.