New-York tribune., 1921-11-11

IN search OF substantial meal.
The transition has been only partly
conscious. Tho late Professor Sselcy
once said that England had developed
her empire in fit Of absence Of mind.
In sense 1t is true. The people
have not planned an empire. They
have conc forth in tho world to seek
their fortunes. They have settled in
distant lands. They have been ex-
posed to dangers and have asked for
protection. 1t has been given them, as
it should be. But from protection
they havc passed to mastery, until less
than one hundred million people Of
British blood rule a quarter Of the hu-
man race.
No Sympathy With
Impcrialistic Force
There is no disposition, believe,
in tho United States to undo the work
Of the. British Empire. 1t has carried
law and order into many dark places
Of the earth. But the American peo.
pie have no sympathy with the forci-
bic extension Of empire over defense
less nations that are on the way to
self-government, by means Of diplo-
matte combinations between conquer
ing races for tho purpose Of subjcc-
tion, expulsion and the possession Of
their natural wealth. They are un~
willing to believe that any civilized
people is desirous Of bearing great
burdens Of taxation In order to carry
on economic imperialism. They be-
levc, rather that il the great powers
would combine to prevent this their
people would unanimously approve. and
if they did so the hundreds of millions
wasted on superAuous armament would
not be necessary.
The economic rivalry Of the nations
along the lines Of honorable business
methods Is unavoidable and If con.
Quoted in spirit Of generous cmula.
tion may be cause Of progress. But
when nations expcnd more for naval
and military armament than for all
other purposes, to the end that by
means Of armed force they may extend
their territories, acquire natural re.
sources and cxpel, dispossess or de-
stroy other populations, they arc re,
turning to the morals and the methods
of the Stone Age, when all strong nacr
were enemies and all weak men were
their victims. In such conditions there
can be no hope Of peace and no sur.
,,ivo1 nf c;vi1;,o%;cr nxcapt h~y rr1n 81; - =
in an area that can be controlled BY
organized armed force dedicated to the
maintenance of justice a defense that
is strong enough to resist spoliation.
How wide can that area be? The ma
tions bordering on the Pacific Ocear
are so far advanced in civilization
their interest in peaceful industry and
trade is SO much greater than any ad
vantage they could derive from war
that here at last the experiment o!
limiting armament might we'll be made
The necessary basis OF such limitation
Is an honorable entente between a few
great powers, to be adhered to b.
others. But such an entente alone j:
not enough. 1t must be followed Of
accompanied by cessation Of increase
and then in time by an actual reduc
tion Of armed force. Here, in positive
performance and not in mere agree,
ment on principles, arc real guaran.
ties to be found. And it is the guaran
ties as we'll as the understanding tha'
| should he insisted unon
AS have said in another place, th'
results Of the conference at Washing
ton, whatever they may be, will deter
mine the foreign policy Of the Unite,
States-and probably of other nation
also-for long period to come. /
there is to be continued rivalry i,
seeking supremacy in naval power, the,
it devolvcs upon the United States
which no one has accused Of imperia
designs, to become the determining po
tential in ultimate decisions in thos
waters where her greatest interests lie
Let no one fear that the Unite,
States will be placed in a position o
dangerous isolation. The United State
is not and never can be isolated. Il
place Of alliances America should seel
friendships. The difference between
them is great. Friendships develop il
an atmosphere of freedom and contin
uous understanding. Alliances are de
vices to secure an augmentation o
armed strength in order to intimidat
one nation at the expense Of anothe,
They have the triple defect of bein,
based on weakness, fear and sclfishness
McCillick, Democrat, Wins