The Washington herald., 1921-08-28

TT is plain from the discussions of recent days that
expectations of the results of the forthcoming
Washington conference beginning to take
= the same extrayagant dimensions those which
preceded the Paris conference Of evil memory. for
those whose hopes were highest. Already one may
read in Washington dispatches the suggestion that
what was not done at Paris can be done in WASH
ington and what done III in 1919 may be revised
in 1921.
This, after ALL Is the beginning of the creation
of another house Of cards, bound to tumble as did
that which was constructed following the victorious
ending Of the world war. Once more we are con-
fronted with difficulties which insuperable, so
Z far as maximum hopes are concerned and what is
even worse the same confusion of obiectives not
alone in the minds Of the general public but even In
the thoughts of certain of the responsible leaders,
Whatever else one may say OF the Paris confer
ence il is clear now that il doomed to failure the
very moment il undertook to pursue two objectves
at the same time. Coneeivably Il might have made
better treaty of peace. If this had been its sole
tas-certainy there defects in the existing docu-
ment which were not entirely necessary But when
il undertook at one moment to express the results
of the victory the stricken field and the aspira-
lions Of these who dreamed Of assuring enduring
peace. the result was inevitable, we had neither a
satisfactory treaty of peace nor semblence OF the
enduring peace.
Now nothing is more disquieting at the present
hour than the fact that already advance notices OF
but three objectiyes We to discuss the subject
Of limitations of armaments, certainly sea. per-
haps ON land We are to consider the broad problem
of the Pacific and finally, the last suggestion we are
to undertake to resolve the still unsettled questions
surviving the Paris conference, surviving the war
and still keeping the world in an uproar.
HUT. it is quite obvious from what is coming
ID alike from Japan and from Europe, that the
extension of the agenda of the Washington confer
ence beyond limits Of a regulation of naval strength
has already had repercussions Of significant char
acter 1t is manifest that Japan, the japanese people
even more than their rulers made to discuss the
question Of the restriction of naval strength, which,
IN practical terms means the reduction of naval ex-
penditure The world isn't any bstter than il was IN
Ior4 this is deusion to dismiss.a delusion which
played the deuce with the Paris proceeding but It IS
great deal poorer. The desire for the great navy
and the great army as the expressions OF national
grandeur still survives But the balancing fact is that
most people in all nations knew that they can't at
ford the grandeur.
These elements which liberal journals are prone
to describe and denounce imperalistic and chau-
whistle while little disturbed by the alleged elevation
of public morals internationally applied since the war,
are at the moment helpless in the presence OF the
pinch Of poverty in all nations big and little The
tax collectors bill is mighter than the olive branch
Of the dove Of peace. The world, japanese. Amer
ican European, is in the mood to get down to the
discussion and the actuality of reduced military
penses provided some rational basis can be found.
But it Is exactly at this point that the prospects
for results in the Washington conference are being
complicated by political issues. Japan is willing to
reduce her armament but Japan is not willing to re-
sign that position of advantage which she has ac-
quircd and occupies in the Far East If this position
be challenged, then even the burdens of excessive
armament will be borne right up to the point Of ma
tonaI bankruptcy, for the simple reason that the
whole nation believes that the maintenance of the
position now occupied is essentai-not merely to
the prosperity, but to the life of Japan.
Limitation Of naval armament restriction of ma
val expenses would for Japan provided it were
limitation shared by al sea powers and in practice
by the United States and Britain, would in reality