Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-14
MONDAY, NOVEMBER IA, 1921.
y Favorable Reaction

Q ECRETARY HUGHES program FOR iimi-
- tation OF armnments, placed before the
conference at Washington Saturday, has
met with measure of favor that is as
gratifying 1t is surprising. The world
seems TO have bcen captured by the very
boidness OF his suggestion, and hardly is
there n discordant note from any quarter
in the enthusiasm with which it has been
received America, as its thought Is inter-
pre,cl by editorial expression OF its lead
ing newspapers and by statements from Sen-
ator;, Representatives and other leaders Of
opinion. regardless OF political ahliation,
accepts the Hughes proposals as sound
ard practicable. In England and France
comment is decidedly favorable while their
delegations in Washington are deeply i'm
pressed. There is evidence, too, that Japan
viii not be vsibly reluctant TO accept tho
plan Indeed, so sweeping is the favor with
. (Which il; has been received that it may
Z ba accepted as rather more than Il mere
starting point for negotiations, and it will
not be surprising should there be no un-
expected developments, il it serves as IA
basis for the final agreement which HOW
seems nearer by many weeks than il did
before Secretary Hughes made his startling
proposal.
II is indicated in the dispatches from
Washington that when the conference con-
. vcnes again Tuesday, Great Britain and
Japan will he found together in an accept
ance OF the Hughes program in principle
II that be the case, then final agreement
may be regarded as certain. Expressions
OF opiGion from the fcregn nations repro
scented at Washington, and even those in
this country .-atc necessarily guarded in so
far as dctaits ri The plan are involved. since
that will prove largely matter for The ex-
ports 10 determine. and il is realized that
3 even the happy auguries OF the opening day
OF the conference may be nulliiied when the
,contcrces get down TO the work of shaping
UP Tie agreement But there IS no reiiccnce
SIN the general approval 81 the principle
s In its popular acceptance. the British-Jup
.danese alliance reccdes in importance, with
the chances favorable that it will not be
mentioned formally in the conference while
even the problem of fortihcations in the
Far East is expected TO prove far easier
OF solution than was feared
AS the result, then. OF Americas sheer
audacity in tearing loose from the shack!es
OF European diplomacy, and openly and
boldly laying Its concrete proposals before
the conference, IL has done much toward
rcgainng the world leadership which il
I once cast aside. and without doubt IL has
advanced the objects of the conference Tn -
stage which il might never have reached
under the now dscrcdited methods of cor
duciing international negotiations. This
master stroke, its reaction among the con-
ierring nations, combined with the fact that
limitation OF ornaments has ceased to he
a theory and become an actual necessity il
they are TO live and avert economic ana an.
clal disaster, strengthens the belief that
they Will be willing TO accept the Immediate
sacrihces suggested by Secretary Hughes for
the sake of the larger rewards of less OF
ornaments and none of war"