The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

J fioulties and obscurities of thep rob-
lem to dampen the hopeful ardor OF
the people, to persuade them not to
expect too much and finally to be
content with nothing at all.
Secretary Hughes. like Presiden
Wilson. steps boldly forth on his bea
foot. Europe is cheering for him.
Its admiration is more cerebal than
the sentimental sympathy it ex-
pressed for WilsonA Hughes does not
inspire visions of terrestrial para
disc. But he does instill confidence in
immediate and practical reform.
Await Next Surprise
Needless to say, naval disarmament
does not concern the European con-
tinent Immediately or practically. No
continental power has a considerable
navy. 1t may save America, Japan
and England millions in taxes. but 1t
won't relieve Europe's suffering.
Therefore, Mr.. Hughes next surprise,
If he has one, is eagerly awaited.
Europe today is longing for two
things-relief from the constant
threat of war; and revival of trade.
1t already is evident to economists
that the two are interdependent. With
insufficient trade to go around, the
nations are grasping for monopolies
and building Chinese walls around
the fragments of their commerce,
sitting it in the very act of trying
to preserve 1t from foreign attack
Sooner or later these Chinese walls
must be, defended with guns.
Until there is trade enough for all,
the best qualified authorities admit
that this condition must persist, But
~, only America.
10 tafbxr will consider
that Secretary Hughes will be maxi
ing a grave mistake If he leaves the
initiative on land ornaments to be
taken By European nations.
Great Stumbling Block
The great stumbling block in the
way of limitation of arms on LAND
(Which means, of course, the limita-
ton of the French army Is Frances
demand for guarantees and security
as every word pronounced by French
statesmen and the French press indi-
Gates. Security against what? Cher
ly against German reputation of the
indemnity clauses of the treaty OF
Versailles.
The kind of guarantees demanded
by the French statesmen are partly
military and political Hope of Amer
lean ratification of a military al
nance Will EIdllSS nos NoAiAohNNt
in its place there is a suggestion for
an implied alliance, based on dis
armament agreement" Such solu-
ton is a mere change of form. but
not of substance. 1t may satisfy the
politicians, but 1t will not make one
blade of commercial confidence grow
where none grows now. Europe real
" is expecting of Chairman Hughes
new kind of guarantee of European
security.
The main cause of complaint about
the present peace is that 1t is too
costly. Sooner or later everybody
must ask If war was not cheaper than
peace. This question, indeed, already
is being asked constantly in various
forms.
French logic sees the only answer
in making peace so profitable that war
no longer will be considered. But
this depends upon America, when
controls credit-the seed corn OF
trade. Europeans say unlock the
storehouse of this seed corn and peace
will be sown throughout the world.
The encouraging thing, as enlight-
ened Frenchmen see 1T, consists OF
BRANDS speeches before he sailed for
A ns&rica, in which he plainly showed
com orehension of this formula. But
he cannot propose 1t, for it touches
the question of international debts,
and delicacy forbfds-