The New York herald., 1921-11-10
Decisions Will Be Futile for
America Unless Sane
toned by Public.
SUCH SUPPORT NOT SEEN
Country Distinctly Frowns on
Closer Armament Under
standing With Japan.
BY A. MAURICE Low.

correspondent of the London Morniu0
Post
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HuRALn.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Nov. o.
1t is not considered good manners
for the guest to tell his host how to
cook his omelet, but in view of the
tremendous issues involved in this con-
ference and the hopes it offers of a
long period of peace if the results an
ticipated can be achieved, it may with
propriety be suggested that If the Ad-
ministration would scrap the official
designation of the conference and re-
christen it the outlook would be more
favorable.
Officially this is a conference on the
limitation OF armament; popularity it is
a disarmament conference, and the pub
lie, which is not only the man In the
street but also men in high places. talk
about disarmament, talk about reducing
navies. think only in military terms.
and entirely ignore. or are ignorant Of
the main purposes of the work Of the
conference, which, called to consider linn
iting armaments, has now become a po-
litical conference of the first magnitude,
and. one is reluctant to say it. but 1t is no
use blinking facts. racial conference.
East Against the West.
1t is the East against the West; Asia
opposed to Europe. In this country more
than any other it is important that the
public should be clearly understanding
this. but because Of the power exercised
by public opinion and the domination it
exercises over politicians the conference
may agree on certain things. but those
decisions will be futile SO far as the
United States is concerned unless public
sentiment sanctions them and the Senate
or Congress, as the case may be, when
II is asked to ratify the work OF the con-
ference is assured OF the support OF
public opinion.
UP to the present time. as clearly as
the state OF sentiment can be determined.
that support is not evident. The coun-
try of course still remains ignorant
and has not awakened to the meaning OF
the conference, but any suggestion that
so-called disarmament can only be ac-
complished by a closer understanding
between the United States and Japan is
not well received; on the contrary. it is
conservative statement that the sug-
gestion is distinctly frowned upon. Yet
there are two decidedly encouraging
signs which I shall not overstress. but
which are Of Importance.
People Opposed to War.
The first is that the country unmis-
takably Is opposed to war unless war is
actually forced upon 1t, and Is sincere in
its desire for reduction OF armaments
and curtailng military expenditures.
For the moment at least the big navy
men are In esclipe and no politician
would be so rash as to run counter to
public opinion by advocating larger ap-
propriations.
The other favorable sign is the more
moderate attitude of tn entransigeants,
the irreconcilables of the Senate, during
the bitter fight over the Versailles
treaty.
Some OF these men rather curiously
are not dS eAplOslNe dS IIllGnt De uIidB-
ined when the necessity Of an arrange
| ment of some kind with Japan is dis
cussed. They are Influenced, think. to
some extent by the position of China.
America wants to save China, not
alone for the sake of China but also
for the sake of America and the rest
of the world, for China Is the modern Ell
Dorado, the public believes in vague
kind of way: and the untapped wealth
of the land of mystery and romance can
be made to flow into American hands
IL there is an assurance of security and
peace.
One must not, however, attach undue
weight to the more reasonable temper
OF certain Senators. They may change
their Views as the work of the con-
ference Is disclosed they may be in
fluenced by other considerations than
those which now appeal to them. but the
fact that when suggestions are made
they do not brusquely dismiss them with
curt non possumus Is significant and
indicative to n certain extent OF the
milder atmosphere of Washington three
days before the meeting of the confer
ence.