The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-20

ny OAASSu OJdISS IldS d DlS SHlp ready to discuss armament reduction.
 Great Britain, owing. it is said. ito the great increase in the naval strength Of the powers is being called upon by the government to increase it's navy so that it always may be the equal of any other single power.
 Still the first lord of the British ad- pliralty declares he welcomes the hint thrown out by President Harding re- garding a disarmament conference at an carly date He says the suggestion will not only continue to meet the most cor dial and helpuful response here, but that he himself will take part in the discus sions
 DISARMAMENT-VITAL
 In the meanwhile, unless something ises to proceed apace. British labor is lined up wholeheartedly in support of immediate steps to obtain international disarmament. It has gone so far as to propose that no further commitments for naval expansion be entered until efforts
 
 rejected by the leading powers of the civilized world
 Labor feels that these powers should
 be approached at once with the re- quest that joint consideration be given to the possibilities of disarmament What is required is for one of the leading nations to take the initiative President Harding could not better sig nalize his advent to the high office he now holds than by issuing, in the name of the American republic, an invitation to the other governments of the world to take part at once in disarmament dis cUsSionS.
 The European powers seem to be too busy liquidating the war situation to make a move, but great good for the whole world might result from the pow erful initiative of America. The large share of interest in London this week has centered about the Brit Russian trade agreement, which is significant event, likely to lead to im- portant developments internally, as well as internationally
 DEFINITE NEW TURN It not only has given a definite new turn to British politics in relation to Russia, but is almost certain to intro duce more liberal inquiries into the Rus sian policy of the allies and perhaps to | eASTClSS d Stcduyll6 llilluShSO III iAuoot- itself. For the past two years it is ad- mitted that the hands of the soviet rul- CTS in Russia have been strengthened by outside military assaults. They have been able to maintain their sway by rallying ] the Russian people to resist these as | saultS.
 l With the fire of outside accusation and assault definitely quenched. it remains to be seen to what extent the soviet government can count upon the willing support of the Russian people. The events of the past three days in Russia have been closely watched here. The Kron- stadt outbreak is regarded as significant, and while it may not lead to complete change of government, it indicates se- we're cleavage internationally. What has been certain during many months past is that the allied policy of hostility has been a big asset to the boi- sheviki and an obstacle to the particular form aof government, soviet or otherwise, that the Russian people themselves de- sired to live under.
 While the present agreement relates ex- clusively to the resumption of trade re- lations, it is sure to exercise strong influence in the direction of political and diplomatic readjustment.
 MEANS FORMAL PEACE
 A satisfactory working of the trade