Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-04
BlTTER-ENDlNG AT PARIS

DARIS newspapers of the sort reputcd to
L be 'close to the Government" continue
to say in unison that President Hardng's S
conference for disarmament will end un-
successfully and that the high hopes with
which the world looks forward to it will be
''smothered In Words
Let us assume for moment that this
cynicism is justifable If nothing but words
comes out Of the Washington Conference It
will not be many years before the forces Of
war and organized fury and desolation stalk
again over Europe. II the hopes of the
world are smothered in verbiage at Wash
ington the people of the Continent will he
confronted with prospects even more bleak
than those which they had to face in the
years Immediately prior to the war. why,
then, should there be powerful newspapers
in Paris intent upon smothering the hope Of
the conference in words even before that
hope has been given an opportunity to try
for its life2
The British are obviously sincere in their
desire to end the nightmare of renewed mHi-
tary rivalres. The Italians have accepted
the Presidents invitation in comnunica-
tion notable for its earnestness. japan has
entered with some reluctance into the
scheme. But she has entered. largely be-
cause she could not long bear the odium and
suspicion that would have followed rejcc-
ton of the Presidents invitation. China
looks to the conference for emancipation.
All the smaller nations of Europe look to 1t
for security and relief from intolerabls
anxiety.
In Paris alone-not IN France, mind you,
but In Paris-opposition to the Presidents
plan Is frank and apparently well organ
ized. It ought to be remembered now that
the press in Paris is generally representa-
tive of official rather than of popular opinion.
1t was natural to expect that certain
clearly defined groups at Paris would look
with little enthusiasm on a project intended
to limit greatly the potentiality of militarists
in international affairs. The French politi-
clans now in power have at their command
n very powerful army. The Government at
Paris is naturally concerned about debt of
SO 900. 600. 900 owed to French bankers by
the Cars Government and rcpudiatCd by
the Soviets. 1t cannot be blamed If it still
hopes to collect that money by direct or
indirect pressure on Russia. Similarly. the
French Government relies largely on the
present potential strength of its armies to
keep out of the hands of a suspected element
in Germany tho enormous natural resources
Of Silesia-coa. iron. chemicals, virtually
nil the means necessary for another on
slaught in French territory. 1t is because
the issues of Siesia and of Russia ar" still
unsettled that the ruling politicians OF the
moment in Paris would prefer to see the
discussion of international disarmament de
laycd. =.
What do the French people think mean
while? NscOunt Bryce is author ity for the
statement that everywhere on the Cont
ncnt the Versailles Treaty is regarded as
n disaster" The terms of the Versailles
Treaty are what the Paris press desires to
see upheld by force. Does Bryce read not
the Paris papers. but the mind of France
itself? \ Disarmament Conference that did
not justly dispose Of all Legitimate French
claims in preliminary discussions would get
nowhere. But are not the French the last
people who ought to believe that even a
victor can win in a modern war: Aren
they the last who should feel that more can
be attained bv fire and blood than by the
civilized processes Of dclihoration and rea
,pS