The Washington herald., 1918-02-27

| contained no secret clauses. This
has been especially true of the in
| struments signed since the war be-
| gan. In particular, all commercial
! and industrial agreements should
| be brought above ground under the
| provisions of this article. To have
| all these which cannot bear the
! light swept out of existence and
no new ones of that character con-
| tracted will be hard on the purses
| of some politicians and the ambi-
/ tiOns OF some diplomats, but it will
| go a long way toward insuring the
| future freedom of China.
Section two, which lays down a
universal rule of freedom of the
seas. does not greatly affect China
! today. But China should support
it in council, since fifty years from
now Unrestricted freedom of the
seas may be the greatest asset of
d developed but non-naval ration.
THE significance of section three
cannot be overstated. In fact, it
cannot now be fully grasped. Mr..
Wilson's words are these: THE re-
moval, SO far as possible, of all
economic barriers and the establish
ment of an equality of trade con-
ditions among all the nations con-
senting to the peace and associat-
ing themselves for its mainten-
ance" What does Mr.. Wilson mean?
World free trade? 1t is known
that he is, theoretically, free trad
er. 1t may be that he is convinc-
ed that the abolition of custom
houses, as some have preached, is a
necessary forerunner of world
peace. The details of his meaning
will not be known, probably, be-
fore the assemblage of this wide
open conference. Then he may find
himself leading the proletariat as
opposed to the capitalistic element.
with present lines of combat wiped
out. However that may be, the dis
cussion of the proposal should offer
China her opportunity.
What the relation of China may
be to section four is problematioal.
Could the matter be rightly present
led, showing that, far from being
unarmed, there are some 100000
troops in China today. the confer
ence might be induced to include
China within the terms of the gen.
eral disarmament proposed. Thus,
under the form of submitting to
! the demands of the western world,
China could rid herself of the sup
port of most of these troops, and at
the same time of the domination of
the irresponsible military leaders
that constitutes such a grave men
ace to internal order. At the same
time the disarmament of Japan
would remove the last cause for
nightmare and make it possible for
constructive craftsmanship to work
in an atmosphere of peace and Sc
curity. The only thing needed to
bring this to pass Is an understand
ing between North and South, thus
precluding the continuation of the
present system in the guise of pre-
serving domestic safety"
We have 1t on the authority of a
very, very high officer in this city
that the Senate investigation of the
War Department has brought about
great changes in the interior work
ings Of the various branches of the
army. The effect of not many of
these is noticeable per sc, but II is
\ there just the same. For this the
American people are responsible,
| for it is not we'll to forget that the
inquiry was inspired by them and
not by politicians in either house.
The American people move slowly,
some of them wonders to perform,
but they move in one direction. and
having gotten under headway are
not to be turned back.
! TEzE OBSERVER