The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-30
URGE AMERICA
DISPEL FEARS
BY F|RMNESS
Europe's Doubts Seen as Men
ace to Arms Conference
United States Stand if Par
ley Fails.
PEOPLES DESIRE SLASH
BY MARK SULLIVAN

WASHINGTON, sept. 3U-A patient
and tolerant inquiry into the Difficult |
ties which have lately seemed to be
projected from foreign quarters into
the way of the coming armament con-
ference reveals some reassuring quail
fications.
The peoples of the various countries
as distinct from the governments, are
as rule just as earnest about the re-
duction of armament and taxation OF
the people of the United States. But
the governments of those countries do
not in all cases march wholly in step
with the attitude of their peoples.
Some of the reasons for this are easily
understandable, but some other of the
motives are less easy TO be tolerant
about.
II is true that in practically all the
countries except China, that are in
yited to the conference there is an
element which. for one reason or an
other. does not believe in any agree
ment to reduce arms. and cannot be
expected to provide the psychological
element of an earnest wish for sue
cess which is more or less essential
To- a happy outcome of the conference.
Our Spirit Outlined
In some of the governments this
element is a dominating factor. In
others this spirit of armament for
armament's sake. or for the sake of
selfish advantage to be gained from
armament. can only be met by us
with a spirit which is willing. in the
event of the failure by the conference
10 say in the terms of a navy order,
''all right. three bells and a jingle.
Full steam ahead and see who goes
broke first"
Some foreign states men seem to
have acquired the very regretable
view that America is so strongly in
favor of reduction that she will re-
duce anyhow, and that, therefore, the
other nations can have the benefits
of reduction by us without their enter
ing into any agreement to reduce also
The American people must make it
clear that this view is wrong.
Lack of Understanding
But it is also true that some of
the hesitation which marks the atti-
tude of other governments flows not
from any disagreeable motive, but
from fear of our inexperience, our
lack of understanding, and our child
like inconsistency in foreign affairs.
There is sentence from Premier
Hughes of Australia, uttered on his
return from the imperial conference
at London. which expresses this. He
said: Europe hopes the conference
will be successful. but it is yet too
early to predict what will happen.
America is very much a novice in in
tat.ra raotf ,aI lEp1A 81
be many surprises awaiting the
American statesmen when the confer
ence meets"
The foreign governments believe.
and have good reason to believe, that
the American people do not under
stand the far-reaching aspects of the
Far Eastern problems, which we have
blithely invited them to discuss. They
are chilled with fear lest we may be
opening a pandora's box of trouble.
Fear Our Attitude
They think they can persuade our
conferees and statesmen to under
stand these complexities. but they are
fearful that the American people can
not be educated to understand them
and recent and painful experience
has led them to realize that the Amer
lean people, as expressed through the
senate, has equal control with our
state department over foreign affairs
These foreign governments can
make out very good case for the
fears with which they regard the com
ing conference. They have seen Amer
lea proclaim for generations that we
believe in the open door in China. but
they have seen the president of the
United States agree to the transfer oil
Shantung 10 Japan and, few months
thereafter. they have seen the Ameri
can veto that transfer.
See Upsetting
They have seen an American presi
dent using the power of his country
10 force on them league of nations
of his own devising and of a sort
which they did not wholly approve
and very soon thereafter they have
seen the American senate repudiate
the American president, upsetting the
biggest and most perishable apple cart
in history.
If these governments, having thi.
recent experience in mind, approach
the coming conference with large de
gree of real fear of what America may
blunder into, it should be far from u.
to blame them, and it can be saiC
with reasonable certainty that it il
Just fear that has led to some of tn,
things that have been done Americ;
Will have TO come to the conferenc,
with firmness.
But 1t will also have 10 come witt
patience. with tolerance for othe
points of view. with a willingness t
learn, and, above all, with a realiza
tion of the necessity of standing b,
Whatever we agree to-(Copyright
hn. 4 IL n