Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-11-11
THE CONFERENCE.
New York Times.)

diffrnt from that with which dele
gates to most international confer
ences are charged. They meet, not u
come to agreements diminishing tho
probability of war. The Washington
conference is tho child of the Ver.
sailles Treaty and tho Covenant Of
the League Of Nations. We rejected
that treaty. but we could not ignols
the endeavor and the humane aspira.
tions of those who negotiated It to-
lay the foundations of lasting peace.
Had the treaty of Versailles contain
cd no Covenant we should have had
no Conference.
This conference has no counterpart
or close precedent in history. The
Hague Conference of 1898 is doubt
less its nearest kin, for tho Cars
purpose in bringing the nations to-
gether was set forth in these words
The maintenance of general peasq
and possible reduction Of the Or
ccssive ornaments which weigh upon
all nations present themselves in thu
existing condition of the world III
the ideal toward which the endeavor
Of all Governments should be direct
cd.
There was tho same aim. limita-
ton of ornaments; and the confer
cncc of The Hague, like that OF
Washington, met in time of peace.
The difference is that Mt the Hague
all the nations were represented. A
much smaller number will be repre-
scented at Washington. The Haguo
Conference had nothing like tho ques-
tion of interests in tho Pacific to nd
just. 1t concerned itself chiefly with
drawing up conventions respecting
the laws Of nations and regulations
for the conduct of war. For another
point of difference which mankind
will devoutly pray may not become
one of likeness, the Cars confer
ence failed disastrously, for in seveh
vars after it's second session all the
world was at war,
The Congress of Paris In 18b5
brought forth the treaty that ended
the Crimean War, but also formulas
ted some useful regulations govern
ing maritime warfare. The Confer
enc of London in 1909 considered tho
same subject and put forth n decla-
ration which remained an unratifioll
futility. For the rest, tho great coul,-
ellis of the nations. for the most mart,
have been limited in attendanc and
in purpose to representations of be-
lligerents and the conclusion of trei,-
/ ties Of peace. Wcstphalia ended the
Thirty Years War and established
the principle Of the balance of DOW
or In Europe. Utrecht marked the
conclusion OF the wars of the Span
ish succession. The great Congress,
Of Vienna repaired the disorders due
to Napoleon's wars and made over
tho map of Europe to suit the ends
of autocrats and dynastics. The Con-
gress of Berlin in 1878 tore Turkey
from Russia's grasp and did what Il
blunderingly could. or dared, to MAKE
the World War of 1914 inevitable.
Between all or any of these and
the conference summond by Presi-
dent Harding there is q world u
moral difference. Behind It's great
essential purpose there Turk no con-
cealcd dsigns upon rights or tern
tory, no furtive preparation for some
future conflict. The purpose is 10
lessen the danger Of conflict and
strife. The chief end and aim is to
diminish naval armaments. The
agreement about interests in the Pa
cific is preliminary and preparatory
to the reduction Of fighting force at
sea. The beneficence of that design
if it can be accomplished, is tou
, obvious for demonstration. It is mon.
strously foolish for tn pople of Br,.
tain, Of Japan and of the United
States to go on spending hundreds OF
millions every year for fighting ma
chimes that can never be used neainst
each other so long as good under
standing prevails. To establish good
understanding it is necessary to ~.
move misunderstanding. That must
/ be the first undertaking of the con.
ference.
China, as everybody knows, Is thu
troublesome point. We have made our
position plain to all the world. We
want for ourselves no special and ex.
elusive right. influence or power OF
control in China, but on the Other
hand, we cannot consent that Other
Powers, or any other Power, shouII
exercise rights, influence or control
that would unfairly shut us out. And
we hold to our agreement, equally
binding upon the. other Powers, thut
the territorial integrity and indepell.
denc Of China shall be respected. We
know Of no reason why we may mol
EXPECT to- come to q firm agreement
with Japan upon these matters. The
! tragic and lamented death Of her
Prime Minister, Mr.. Hara, comes at
an untimely moment, but it is hoped
that the loss Of his wise and liberal
counsel will not unfavorably affect
the negotiations. Sprung from tine
people himself, he was looked upu,
rs representing the view and the In.
terests Of the Japanese people as
I against the reactionary or less Ell.
lightened policy of the military par.
ty.. But We may hope that tho trL,
vote Of. Japan will make itself heard
ut Washington. The sincere and me-,
err interrupted friendship between the
two countries will powerfully tend
to good understanding.
There have been greater interna.
Honal sssemhlig., with mora eon,nn.
hensfVe plans and programs, f6r Gle