New-York tribune., 1921-11-14
Navy Cut Called
Futile Without
Far East Peace
foeasinues .frcm pass oas)

swelled the rapture. OF the Joyful mo.
'nent. All the feudal prerogatives were
dead, and FRANCE was to live hence
forth on basis of equality.
1t is easy for men to forget that
nr'ne-tenths OF the present is the past.
human nature has its moments of de-
preston and of exaltation, of vision
and of blindness, and the very brillian-
cy of the vision may induce lmomen-
tary blindness. The great secular cur
rents Of human history are not changed
by RESOLUTIONS thrown into the channel.
They sweep on with their irresistible
aewf tor an uneIanging nature is be-
The proposal of November 1c. de-
crseipg the scrapping of 80 many capi-
tai shlps at cost of nearly half .
billion dollars to the people of tho
United States, was, indeed, a splendid
gesture, but taken by itself alone the
adoption and execution of that lroposal
would do no more to insure interna-
sienai peace than the renunciation of
he French notables did to prevent the
french revolution. It would leave the
United States confronted by an inter
national situation which would not be
essentially modified.
Nc Peace in Mere Destruction
If il were found that there was res /
need Of naval force, the situation would
condemn the sacrifice as the wanton
destruction of national property Gre
ated at immense cost, without any ade-
auate cempen sation, for the mere de-
struction Of the machinery of war will
never give peace to the world. War is
not caused by its instruments, but by
the purposes and the passions for which
those Instruments are fashioned and
employed. We shall never he able to
the rights IF
sinking the ships constructed to defend
shenl. There was in its time a reason
fer constructing them, and they cannot
without reason be sent to the bottom.
Ut the sea az If they were essentially
guilty things. They have served the
great purpose of national defense. and
we must not overlook the continuity of
the reasons that brought them into
being. wv
1t would be blind nation that could
honor It's unknown dead OH one day,
ana without assurances of changed
world on the next day, destroy the
naval power that had protected the
Ewes of the survivors by securing their
safe transportation across the ocean.
There Is certainly no such illogical
confusion of mind as that in the pro
pesal of President Harding, This il
10 unbalanced and unqualified abandon
nent OF naval defense. Nor does this
proposal stand out as an isolated
proposition. As President Hardinr
wisely said, ..Fhe world demands
sober contemplation of the existing mr..
der. The conference cannot simply
adopt the plan of limiting armament
shat has been offered and adjourn with
Sus further acsien; Very pertinently,
aeSre.afy se as hughes has called attention
90 Two competing views: one, that the
consideration of armament should
await the result of the discussion of
Eaf tastern questions, and another.
Saat the latter discussion should he
postponed until an agreement for
haitahen OF armament has been
reached. Very wisely, ! believe, far
reasons that it may not he necessary
70 consider here, the Secretary. with
rue questioning the essential interrela-
aen OF these two subjects, has decided
not to postpone the consideration of
elthsr. Both are to be under examina-
ton at the same time, and the con
eiuslons arrived at will Inevitably in
teract
Mest imsure Amerieas Rights
There can, for example, be no possi-
bility of the United States, with dimin-
shed naval resources, having to face
any combination OF naval powers as
sociatcd in their common interest.
whatever that interest may be. Ii the
American people are to scrap any OF
their ships they must be assured be-
fore deinx SO that they are not de-
stroyIng their means Of asserting their.
rightfuI place in the world. That
sightful place Is one Of perfect equal
ity with all other nations In the less
protected territaries of the Far East.
We need not enter further upon this
subject here, but may confidently
await the further disclosure Of the
president's program Of procedure and
policy. but it Is perhaps not untimely
10 be reminded that IL America
accepts a secondary position in naval
armament she will not accept sec
andsry position in any form of inter
national relationship. Concession in
The matter of armed force is inspired
ay the purpose of diseouraging aggres-
sfon, !f it has that effect we may go
op eventually to q very radical reduc-
zion OF naval power, hut If tits not ac-
fotDpanisd by an anaelioraticn Of In
teEnstionsl conditions. with an organ
M m2fhod o3 esxtinuiur the unasy-