Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-25
America Knows Vast
Importance Of Meet;
Is Doing Her Share.
open Door . Policy
May Be Abandoned,
Say Some Diplomats.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
Special Correspondent of The Tribunl

BY ROBERT r. SMALL
Special Correspondent Of The Tribune
Copyright, 1921, by The Tribune
Washington, Sept. 24.-Al-
though the phrase is borrowed
from a previous occupant at
the White House the Harding
administration has undertaken
an "acid test" of the sincerity
of leading nations of the world.
The forthcoming conference
on the limitation Of arma-
ments is simply that and
nothing more. The conference
will enable the controlling ma
tons of the two hemispheres
to put down in writing some Of
the lifty professions and senti-
ments that have echoed around
the world since the signing of
the armistice.
1t is no longer a secret that the
United States took the lead in bringing
about this conference because it is the
nation best able to continue to arm in
the future. The last thing the people
OF the United States desire, the last
thing that President Harding would
want to engage in, would be an arma-
ment race with any other nation or any
other combination Of nations.
Plain and Sincere.
Plain and sincere words are likely
to be uttered across the armament con-
ference. So, when it comes time for the
United States government to place it's
cards upon the tables they will be face
up. There will be sufficient publicity
at the conference to let the world know
that if the other nations are not will
ing to keep frankly and freely with
what President Harding terms ZAP
proximate-disarmament." the United
States can set a pace that will COM
pletely crush those who attempt to
compete.
It is becoming clearer as the con-
ference approaches that one of two !
things must happen. Either there will |
be an agreement to limit ornaments /
In the future-not a hating, hesitating /
agreement but a whole-hearted one-Or
there will grow out of the parley
staggering era Of war preparations, for
If the other nations refuse to join with
the United States in the limitation Of
ornaments it will be plain to all that
this country is isolated and must pre-
pare to take a completely independent
part in world affairs.
It is unthinkable Of course to the
Washington administration that the +
other nations will not gladly join the
United States and it is difficult to visu-
alize refusal at this time Of the lead
ership offered.
Hold Peace Of World.
The Washington administration feels
that the nations invited to the confer
ence hold the peace Of the world in
their hands. Therefore the forth COM
ing conference holds the issue Of war or
peace. If the nations are earnestly
DESTROYS Of peace the United States.
ing to meet them more than half way
AS mater of fact, military and naval
men already are declaring that the
United States has shown its earnest
ness by Virtually disarming in advance
Of the conference. The army is being
cut down to what amounts to little
more than garrison strength. or a na
tional police force. Building has been
stopped on many important naval yes
sells are being allowed to fall into
non serviceable condition due to the
lack Of personnel sufficient to keep the ,
establishment up to anything like its
war time strength.
However it will be suicidal for the
other nations of the world to mistake Z
the sentiment Of the United States.
There is pacifist sentiment in the Unit
ed States simply because the American :
people are always ready to attribute j
high motives to other peoples and are
to believe that any other
governments would contemplate war {
with this country. 5
Closed Sessions. '
Let the drift Of the Forthcoming con- d
ference show belligerent attitude on
the part Of other nations, and the senti- '
ment of the American people would 2
swing over night. 1t has swung just S
as quickly before. The more that r
Washington observers and diplomats i
study the coming conference at close u
range the more delicate they realize it's C
deliberations will be. For this reason v
there is very serious doubt that the r
sessions as q whole will be open to {
the public. u
President Harding and Secretary of .
State Hughes are earnestly endeavor- =
ing to find a means of completest pub a
licity possible to all that goes on in the u
conference chamber, but it is realized a
that after all is said and done, if the II
sessions were to be opened to the pub
lie, they would as always, drift into
extremely formal affairs with lot of
Dratory for home consumption, while P
the real agreements would be reached u
IN private conference attended by only p
q few of the delegates.
OF this, however, there can be no
aoubt--greater efforts will be made
towards complete publicity than ever
before attempted at any international
gathering of similar Importance.
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.
Washington, Sept. 24.-Plans for the :;
of federal bureau for y