Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-16
MEMBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, September rs, 1921.
CONFERENCE SCORING

IL WOulu DE " iOOh upoIi
much of the so-calied news respect
ing the approaching conference to
limit ornaments as race-track habi-
tues look upon the scoring by the
drivers to get position before the
word Go" is given.
There are factions among all peo-
pies, there are the "ins" trying to
keen in, and the outs" watching for
q misstep which might enable them
to elbow in; there are those con-
WINGED that war never can settle any
thing definitely and those who regard
war as inevitable. The latter classes
are presumably honest in their opin
ions. Some of the others are not
and are playing with as grave
problem as peoples have been called
on to consider. They should feel the
weight of public condemnation.
Many of the reports now appearing
in the public print are doubtless in
fluenced by these factional dlfferen-
ces and should accordingly be ac-
cepted with more or less reservation.
Some of the reports are put out as
'feelers" to get a response from pub
lie sentiment SO that estimates may
be made of the popular reception
which may be accorded to certain
policies.
On the other hand much of what is
now going on in the preliminaries is
very important and inevitably will
exert a great influence toward the
results of the conference. There is
much discussion, most of it properly
of confidential nature, endeavoring
in advance to smooth out difficulties
or avoid them altogether. What to
take up at the conference is funda-
mentally essential. Naturally Great
Britain and Japan for many reasons
are not disposed to favor opening up
the problems in the Pacific. On the
other hand our government regards
them prerequisite to the limiting of
naval expenditures. IF the door to
the Orient is not to be kept open, if
secret understandings between Eng
land and Japan are to persist, if con-
ditions in that quarter of the world
which so far as our navy at present
is concerned constitute the only cloud
on the horizon are to be continued
there is little to expect from the con-
ference.
Those in England who would ter
inmate the secret understanding with
Japan, those in the latter country
who are convinced we are not seek
ing through the conference to get a
strangle hold on their country but
are sincere in our purposes are work.
ing in behalf of the success of the
conference. We must cooperate with
them. This cannot be done by public
discussion Of all the preliminaries
not by taking the whole world into
our confidence at moment when
mischievous spirits that for one rea-
son or another might find therein an
opportunity to gain some selfish end
by acting the fnarplot 1t would do
no good, probably would be harmful,
were Secretary Hughes to announce
publicly that America could not limit
its navy so long as there was hang
ing over US the menace of a British
and Japanese navy united. Japan
should be allowed to save her face"
by arriving at settlement with
China before the assembling of the
conference if that be possible We
will do well, also. to bear in mind
that she is compelled to deal with a
divided China, for which condition
she may be partly responsible but
which is nevertheless embarrassing
not only to her but to the conference
to which China has been invited
The importance of the Pacific sit
uation is further emphasized by the
inclusion of Belgium and Holland in
the membership Of the conference, as
both Of these countries have holdings
IN that part Of the world and are
properly interested in the solution.
While not as important as some
seem to think, when regarded in the
light they are sometimes presented in
the press these preliminaries are not
only essential If we are to have an
uncensored conference but they are
contributing to the education of the
public which will thus be better able
to Judge OF what is accomplished by
the conference: indeed may serve to
inspire efforts at that meeting which
otherwise wouldn't be made. People
had little knowledge of what went on
at Paris; they must have clearer
view Of what is being done at Wash
1ngton.
Meanwhile courage should not be
permitted to falter. The mistakes
made at Paris are danger signals all
must heed. Each day that draws the
conference nearer reveals the ire
mendous importance Of it. Then is
the opportune time to Give expression