Evening star., 1921-07-17
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
/ A FAITH RECLAIMED" r

III
~ be the title of that chapter
~ of history about to be
written by President Hard
ing thr ough official action, in assem-
bling the statesmen Of the larger
powers of the world in Washington
to take up primarily the question OF
curtailment of Armament and re-ush-
ering in efforts looking toward the
solidffication of peace and the per-
petuation of the best interests OF
manlsind. For there is every indica-
tion that before the world conference
has been concluded. much of the
worlds faith in American idealism.
lost during and after the peace con-
ference in Paris. will have been re-
gained.
Already in old world capitals there
Is seen the whole-hearted re-entrance
Of the United States into the settle
ment of world questions. for in sue
cessful settlement of the armament
question there also must be settled
hundred and one issues that today
vex the world at large. and all of
which have potential danger to indi-
vidual nations and international wei
fare. There is no question tnat the
coming conference, to which all or
the larger powers have subscribed,
will take far-reaching courses before
agreements are arrived at. 1t Is be-
lieved sincerely in old world capitals
that when the conferences will have
ended many Of the international bug
aboos will have been laid low or steps
taken to alleviate possible dangers to
future concord between the peoples OF
the world
VIII Get the Credit.
To President Harding and the pres
of having initiated this new world
conference. which will solidify and
make tangible these settlements e1-
fected in Paris. but which. through
the course of circumstances in all
Quai ters Of the globe. have been per
United to hang in abeyance while
nationalistic veal has been consid-
cred to the exclusion of international
advantage. If President Harding IS
able to achieve desired ends. he will
be heralded as savior throughout
Europe. where peoples burdened down
In the aftermath OF four years Of ter
rible. struggle still are carrying on in
moNe or less hopeless fashion.
In France. England, Italy, and even
in far of Japan, there has been tend =
ency to Increase. not curtail. arma-
ments Of all character. This has but
increased already vexatious economic
and financial burdens. The breaking
point long since has been approached.
There can be no question that states
men at the head of organized govern
ments heaved a sigh of great relief
when the Harding invitation to a dis
armament conference was issued in
Washington, for America, with her
generally credited disinterest edness.
makes it possible to usher in a pc
riod of radical curtailment of gov
oil Nnrtfh ptNcerp ..vnf
chopping of grievous taxation burdens
IN all sections ef the world. This will
appease the people and In some Sec
tions actually head OFF civil strife of
Cminous portent.
Four -flfths of the economic crises
been due to the belief of the people that
governments, after four years of
struggle. were plunging into new eras
of militarization destined to wreck
the exchequers Of all nations, if not
bringing on actual war. The people Of
Europe, having had experience after
experience in fratricidal' conflict. have
seen the same thing before. almost
from the dawn Of history. 1t was not
without reason that they hailed the
idealism of America in the settlement of
world questions.
1t was abandonment of American
participation in world councils, where
america might act IS arbiter Of multi
tudlnouS dfmcultleS. therefore induc-
ing return to the old order, that
caused the tremendous wave of re-
action against this country in France,
England. and Italy during and after
the Paris conference.
Have Builded Air Castles.
The peoples had, rightly or wrongly,
builded air castles in new world
Utopia, and America was to be the
Moses to lead the children out Of the
wilderness. Reasons why America
failed to give up to the lofty idealism
attributed to her after the treaty of
Versailles was signed naturally are
moot and ascribed by political parties
as their will. but the fact neverthe-
less remains that American prestige
did fall with a thud that sickened
tons of millions of old world peoples
who expected the United States to
take the lead against further exem-
pliflcation of selfish interest, sure to
lead to return TO the old order
1t is well known that general war
fare. IL repeated in the next fifty
years. would mean the extinction Of
some nations-at least lead them into
prolonged periods Of chaos and
misery.
-Four -fifths of the difficulties that
have confronted the supreme allied
council in the settlement Of constant
1y arising political questions since the
treaty Of Versailles was signed
would not have eventuated had the