The Washington herald., 1921-12-11


ropean peoples and measure-up '
future possibilities.
English Solid for Plan. .
The feeling of tha English people.
as far as ] can find out among my
own crowd. Is absolutely solid for
the Hughes program.
Before ! left Washington did not
seem to matter very much to most
Of them. They were not Interested.
believing tine conference would be
mere repetition OF pious utter
ances and gushing ins!ncerities. The
league of nations and it's ineffective
debates had disheartened even its
warmest advocates. Words, confer
ences. assemblies. seemed to have
no real reference to the urgent
facts Of life, to fuctuating ex-
changes. unemployment, high taxa
ton. failing markets. the perils
creeping closer to many homes and
hearts. International idealism be-
ing dcthroned. the man in the street
no longer believed any government
could act in any way not sharply
dictated by national egoism and
self Interest.
What happened at Washington
gave him moral shock, awakened
in many minds all kinds of old
hopes which seemed dead, but were
only sleeping. The wave of enthu-
siasm was so great that Il con-
verted sinners to repentance, hard
ened old political sinners whose
names shall not be mentioned by
me, though I am greatly tempted to
such indiscretion-and they are now
solemnly going about the country
confessinE a faith which for the
years since the armistice they
have denied by their deeds.
Is Tribute to America.
To say that popular enthusiasm
is still at fever heat would be to
claim for human nature something
that il does not possess. Cold
doubts and cynical comments have
succeeded to the first praise From
what | hear many clever fellows
are putting about the remark that
the Success OF the Washington con-
ference will only make war cheaper
They mean It will not make il less
likely Others. like oliver Twist.
with his thin Cruel. ask for more
Their minds leap impatiently to
land disarmament. to the breaking
down OF economic barriers between
European nations. to q system Of in
ternational credit backed by the
United States and Great Britain for
the reconstruction Of the bankrupt
countries.
But that very impotence. all this
private criticism. even. is a trib-
ute to the power of the good will
OF the United States. 1t is now
firmly stuck in many minds that
only America can help Europe out
Of the present morass. that we can
do nothing II her strong hand fails
us or if she weakens in the work
she has begun.
Common Sense to Prevail.
am one OF those who thinks So
and I am one of the impatient ones
who pant for time when. after
the limitation of naval ornaments.
there shall be a second conference
called. formulating plans for so
long a spell of peace that our chill
dren's children shall be able to get
on with the purpose of civilization
without having to train and organ
iZe for "inevitable" massacre
1t will not be so difficult as many
think. The pressure of hard facts
Is rapidly educating the masses Of
men and women. including states
men and politicians. I do honestly
believe in spite of the political noise
and fury in France. Germany and
other countries. that there is Sc
crct Acknowledgement among all
classes that We must demobilize our
standing armies and standing ha-
treds or die in another great con-
fltct which will end all things.
Common sense is beginning to
prevail over fanaticism. Even in
Russia that is happening Lenin
himself confessed the utter failure
Of bis call to world revolution and
now has abandoned communism
with disgust which he expressed in
frank, brutal phrases. He has re-
established private property. with
some reservations, and private
trading.
Sees Peace rs Great Need.
Russia is swinging back to cap
italism: Its leaders. men like Chi
cherin and Radek. with whom
talked confessed that Russia can
only save herself by abandoning
Bo1shevik propaganda and entering
into peaceful relations with for
eign powers, securing foreign cap
ital and credit.
Radek, as brilliant an old ruffian
as l have ever met, talked to me
for an hour in that fantastic
fortress of the Kremlin which SYM
bolizes all the cruelty, the mystery
the Oriental character of Russian
history; and the theme of all his
talk was the desire and the need
Of Russia for peace. The last Of
fensive against the Poles, he said.
was stopped by Lenin and Trotsky.
not because they had exhausted the
military strength-they had vast
numbers of men in reserve, he de-
clared-but because peace was more
valuable to Russia than victory. He
saw no reason why there should not
be friendship between Russia and
the British Empire and the United
States on a frank basis of CONNER
cial interests.
World Needs Russia,
There is no doubt that Radek.
who gazed at me with bright
benevolent eyes in a face fringed
with reddish hair. has no moral
honesty in his dovelike message of
peace and good will. But I think
he has intellectual honesty. II 1.
perfectly true that Soviet Russia
needs and desires peace at any
price, and is willing. am certain
to give any guarantees under pres
sure in return for recognition and
international trade.