Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-09

1t Is generally conceded tnaI HreSluenI I1diu-
ing chose the psychological time for proposing
the disarmament conference. The nations OF
Europe, and Japan, the one big power OF the
East. would have paid scant attention at any
other time. But England, and France, and
other European nations are staggering under
enormous debts, unable to pay even the interest
on their foreign obligations, and public opinion
as well as common business sense force their
attention. Japan is in far better economical
condition, her losses during the war being not
a drop in the bucket compared to the men,
munitions and money thrown into the ravenous
Jaws of the dragon of war by the other eninies
of the Central Powers. Japan's acquiescence
followed the realization that world opinion
would single her out as the one obstructlng
power bent on conquest and expansion by force
of arms.
The attention CT the public is now turning
toward whether the trained diplomats OF other
lands are to use their cunning and devious
methods in Washington as they did at YER
sailles, to give the appearance of striving hard
to reach a basis of peaceful settlement OF an
international troubles, but at the same Time
reserving and holding special advantages Tor
their nations which would in effect nullify the
whole plan.
Peace Treaty Intrigue.
1t is no secret now how the League 70 Nations
plan crumpled and collapsed. Former President
Wilson, his mind set on the acceptance OF his
scheme, was played upon by the premlers OF
Europe and Japan until, to get their support,
concessions had to be made to each OF tnem'
Great Britain demanded separate representa-
ton for each of her overseas dominions, and
got that as well as other advantages. France
showed what she really thought of the League
plan by insisting on the acceptance of an ALI
ance with Great Britain and the United States,
in addition to membership in the League as
protection in the future against Germany Japan
demanded and got tho Shantung settlement as
her price.
The whisperings and underground rustlings
of diplomatic intrigue can already be discerned,
although the conference is far away. 1t Is
reported that Secretary of State Hughes Eas
found it necessary to address an informal but
strongly worded memorandum to the embassy
of one of the big powers warning it that bargains
and trades and sub rosa work is not 10 De
tolerated,
President Harding has set his hand t. the
pillow in this task, and has repeatedly given
through. Without doubt Secretary Hughes, well
equipped for the task, will be the spokesman
and representative of the American govern
ment at the disarmament conference.
In effect, President Harding has taken the
nations Of the world as being but people in a
small community-people who have from the
dawn of time been pickering and fighting and
stealing from each other, encroaching on eacn
others lots, breaking each others windows, ana
to pay the grocer on the corner Tor what
they eat. Many of them are in the position or
having borrowed from a rich neighbor, and now
find that they cannot meet their notes.
If neighbors in a village acted as history
records the actions of nations they would be
thrown i>o jail or ridden out OF town on d
fence rail. In the past 1t has been the universal
custom for nations, strong and rich, to over
poWer and make subject to them their weaker
Nearly every civilization has spread
itself by conquest and arms. Had Germany and
its allies won the old story undoubtedly Wouio
have been repeated. -,
A thousand and one separate interests will
have to be moulded and shaped toward a COM
mon end when the disarmament conference
meets. England will look with dread upon any
movement which would deprive her, an lsland
power, of the tremendous naval force she now
possesses. 1t is inborn in the British to regard
their navy as the great factor of British satety.
But British taxes are very heavy, and BRUSH
debts to America are so huge that the repre-
sentatiVes of that proud nation have not scrupled
to suggest the forgiveness of this debt by the
United States.
L,,onoo +roipad +a tho habit Of fhOught that
her natural and hereditary enemy, Germany
lies just over the border, smarting. under a
crushing defeat, will make a struggle against
giving up or materially reducing her large stano-
Japan Plays Her Game.
From Tokyo the hints at obstruction or the
PURPOSES of the conference are multiplying at
the mere invitation to take part in 1t. FIRST
Japan wanted to know the exact scope tne
discussions at the conference would have, ana
did not want the Pacific question brought IN
at all. This was in effect politely refusing, ana
Japan practically had to come into the CONFER
ence just the same.
Baron Sakatani, member of the japanese
House of Peers, is credited with a recent inter.
view bearing on the subject, some parts OF
which are remarkable in that they throw a
light on the sort of thing the japanese people
are being given to read. He is credlted Win
saying that if the disarmament conierence
it will be because each is suspicious Oh the
others motives and intentions with respect 10
China. 1t is limited even that Japan might sus-
meet America of imperial designs of her own
IN the Far East. How utterly ridiculous this is
It is unnecessary to say.
The situation is not altogether without us
lighter elements. There is now in washington
the representative of the ruler OF one OF Ine
smaller nations to the north of India. rms
ruler and his father before him have been heio
virtually subject to England and their natoL
under British domination through the annua
payment of a large sum to the ruler from the
British treasury. This payment was omitteo
last wear. and the ruler was so upset that he Is
seeking to establish diplomatic relations will
the United States. 1t means that he want
America to subsidize him, in return for whlcf
America presumably would get special treat
ment which would be to her advantage.