The New York herald., 1921-11-10

tdCcu OUT DuTQeuS. we pdlu our W$NS'
and II we appear to be suffering more
than others for the moment il is be-
cause we elected 10 take our punish
ment when II was due instead az post
poning II until the penalty became
severe beyond endurance.
"And In this connection let me say
one word. The Washington conference
is rainbow across the sky. Why? Be
cause without the assurance of peace
business will never be restored and
that conference comes none too soon.
Man is the most intractable of animals.
If you infiict punishment on any other
animal it learns its lesson quicker: but
man is q stubborn brute. Take the late
war II was the most terrible, the most
devastating that the world has even
seen. Competition in armaments largely
contributed to 1t. That lesson was
scourged into the flesh of humanity.
They have not learnt it.
Disarmament Road TO Safety.
mo sooner are we out of that terrible
carnage than the world is beginning TO
devise and amass fresh engines for fu-
ture wars: fresh combinations enSin-
eered to prepare for war; fresh subjects
are constantly springing up to justify
war You might imagine that the aim
and glory of all national organization
was simply human slaughter. Arma-
ments are three times as expensive IN
the payment of men and materials as
they were before the war; and they are
becoming a hundred times more destruc-
tive. The burden in peace will be
crushing What will happen in war de-
fies contemplation. Disarmament Is the
only road to safety.
LET us have no doubts about the
Worlds suspicious. fears, misunder-
standings. nay. even quarrels. They
will arise among nations exactly as they
arise among individuals, and If there $
a weapon in their hand with which to
strike, 1t will one day be loosed. The
American conference has the future of
civilization in its charge. Therefore,
earnestly pray for its success.
twenty-five years ago Lord Sails
bury standing in this place announced
to the nation the satisfaction which he
and everybody felt at the settlement by
q peaceful solution which had just been
attabne of the last difficulty-the last
serious difficulty which had arisen be-
tween this country and the great Re-
public of America Every man and
woman of British blood has been taught
to regard a serious quarrel with Amer
ica as unthinkable. That attitude OF
mind in itself is guaranty for peace
between two powerful communities.
+ This conference to be held under the
auspices OF the President of the United
States ought to carry the world stage
further. II is the inculcation of -
similar attitude toward and between all
peoples of the world. and when that is
achieved. and II 1t Is achieved at this
assembly in Washington, the Washing
ton conference will be the greatest event
the world has seen for I 900 years
And you remind me. Lord Mayor
that the British public is concerned with
another problem, not merely with the
problem of peace between nations of the
world, but the problem of peace be-
tween the nations OF the Empire The
history of the last 700 years has been
one continued hostility or semi-hostilitY
between these two islands that were
designed by Providence to live in neigh.
borly amity together.
Last year 1 ventured here at this
table to extend an invitation on behalf
OF the people of Great Britain to the
people OF Ireland to quit the path blood
drenched with atrocity. inevitable In a
racial feud, and come into free partner
ship with the British Empire as equals
i cannot reveal any secrets OF the con-
ference, my Lord Mayor. That Is the
way to bring a conference nowhere. All
] can say Is that there is a better pros
day than at any time In years.
THE conference was summoned In re-
sponse TO his Majesty the Kings strik-
ing appeal at Belfast. Where we are
now arriving at is probably the most
critical stage of that conference. and ]
shall say nothing that will make II diff
fcult for us TO arrive at an agreement
It is so much to tho interest OF both Of
us, It Is so much of interest 20 the En-
r1fra thara Will ha nH
ciliation. There have been many faults
not all on one side.
Three Parties at Conference.
There are three parties now repre-
scented at that conference. There Is
Great Britain and there are representa-
tives OF the majority OF the Irish people
and there also Is the homogeneous popu-
latlon that YOU have in the northwest Of
Ireland. each with Us own viewpoint
No doubt they have a good deal in com
mon, but still they have their own view
point each with their own special inter-
ests as we'll as "A common interest
each--well. let me say. each with their
own susccptiblities and perhaps even
with their own prejudices.
"A nation without prejudice Is not
worth much, and the best OF US have
them. All we can do is TO try and keep
them under control The success Of the
conference depends on the extent TO
which you can reconcile and accommo-
date those differences of temperament
and tradition and interest. In order to
do that. all parties must be prepared 10
give and take. II each Of US approached
tie very difficult. complex. tangled prob
lens with the determination that we will
not bulge an inch from the position we
have taken up. that attitude will be
hailed with wild acclamation by unthink-
ing. short sighted partisans. But IL Will
never lead 20 peace.
"And IL Il does not II will simply be
another great opportunity lost. II will
be another burden for a very heavily
burdencd people 10 carry--a burden
maybe we would be willing to carry for
O good cause, but not unless Il IL for
good cause.
"The burden will be great. for the
forces at our command will have more
Tnan doubled. and thet IL only a part
of the real loss. The real loss would be
the embarrassment and the weakness OF
o. discredlted Empire that cannot settle
its own troubles. After ALL there r.
nothing so discreditable ms two house
holds that continually quarrel, which at
tracts the attention OF the neghbors
i"All | can gay in conclusion Is that
we who are IN the conference in behalf
Sf the British Government and the
-rpsfsh people regard ourselves as the
trustees OF the Empire, guardians Of It's
honor and Its security. It is high
trust and we promise we will not be-
tray u. All OF US without difference