The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-11-24
Of our own and foreign countries may

of our own and foreign countries may
be expected to protest most vigor-
ously against the Hughes plan, and
the men and interests who profit
from building ornaments are not
the class of business men who are 60
ing to see their business go to pot
without making terrific fight. Al
ready the opposition to the Admin
istration plan, so ably stated by
Mr.. Hughes, is beginning to crystal
ize, and fifty-seven yarities of rea-
sons are being urged against it. The
most faint-hearted opponents want
to keep the shipbuilding plants alive,
and they state many reasons like
that pertaining to unemployment,
confscation Of property, ETC., but the
effect of it all ofar as the big
questions are concerned tends to
feed the spark of militarism. so that
the expensive job of building great
battleships may not be permanently
abandoned.
In Washington one hears every
where the talk that the big battle
ships are already an obsolete in
strument of great warfare. The
palaces of the seas are in disrepute
because airships, chemicals, and
other devices and agencies proved
more effective in the last war, and
science has given them first place
in the needs of what is referred to
as "the next war" So much against
the battlesnip, and all of this favors
the American diplomatic plan.
THE MAIN ISSUES
1t must not be forgotten in the
exhuberance of the moment that
scrapping of battleships and naval
holiday is but an incidental feature
of the Conference. Limitation of
ornaments is theoretically possible,
and really very probable. In putting
it ahead of everything else the Adj
ministration played its trump card.
The Congress of the United States
has made it plain that it will back
up Mr.. Hughes words, and the psy-
chology of this is far-reaching and
is sure to have great weight as the
Conference proceeds with its work
But the Far Eastern questions are
on the schedule, and they carry with
them the main differences that are
t ODE fought out in the proceedings
of the coming weeks. The japanese
are to be asked to give up great de-
mands that they have made in the
Orient, and to relinquish hopes that
have grown with them to the. point
0 fthe fright of possession" Japan
is not likely to consent tamely. 1t
is safe prediction to say at this time
that there are storms ahead, and if
the expected shall happen that the
nations of the world attempt to bring
such tremendous pressure upon Jap
an as to make her submit, it is not
improbable that by that time that the
naval holiday will become somewhat
ohscured in the excitment of affairs
While the naval holiday is paramount
at this time, the shifting current of
events, is likely to press that matter
into the background as issues between
the nations particularly between
the United States and Japan, and
with Great Britain heavily involved
These issues may threaten the con-
tinuation of the Conference, and they
may even break it up entirely.
THE s'HEM AND HAW' STAGE
The outstanding promising feature
of the Conference exists in. the APP
parent confidence of the world di:
plomats in the good intentions of
each other. The usual terms of So
cial intercourse are being cultivated
AN dthe American Administration is
recognized as the leading factor not
only in handling the proceedings, but
in suggesting new methods for inter-
national diplomacy. But while our
dominant power is fully recognized
by all it is still only fair to the for
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