Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-12
v. J. BRYAN URGES
W|P|NC OUT DEBT
Of ALLIES To j. s.
Declares Success of Confer
ence Depends on Earnest
ness With Which Nations
Seek to End War
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE
conference which is about to as
semble may prove to be the most i'm
portant gathering in centuries, or it
may. bring the greatest disappoint-
ment experienced in generations.
1t all depends upon the real pur-
pose of the actors-a purpose that
can only be revealed by acts.
.If-the delegates believe universal
and perpetual peace possible, they
will try to secure it; if not, they will
not attempt anything of real and
permanent Importance.
1t is a conference from which any
one of the nations may emerge the.
hero.
The United States may surprise
the world by offering so much that
the other nations will be compelled
to accept the offer and end war.
Japan may announce a willing
ness to go so far as to insure the
success of the conference. Great
Britain may step to the front and
settle discussion by a proposition
which will leave the other nations
no alternative but to accept. France
may find in disarmament her great
est security, and point the way to
world peace.
Who will win the capital prize.
which in this case will be the plaud-
its of the world and the gratitude
of posterity.
The United States has the best
position. She extended the invita-
ion and has the first move. More
than that, her traditional policy has
been to rely upon her pacific in
tentions rather than upon fleets and
armies. In the present instance, she
has a mighty asset in the debts due
her.
Suppose the United States were
to step forward and say: We are
willing to pay ten billions for the
progressive disarmament of the
world, begun at oncd and continued
until the navies are no larger than
necessary to police the seas and the
armies no larger than necessary to
preserve peace on land; could the
nations refuse the offer?
Ten billions of debt cancelled on
such conditions would enable the
allies and their enemies to get to-
gether and so distribute the sum as
to bring a large measure of finan-
cial relief to every nation involved
in the war, and this relief would re-
store friendly relations and permit
a disarmament otherwise impossible.
The cancellation of this debt, added
to the reduction of military and ma
val expenses, would give the world
a new birth and go far towards re-
storing normal conditions in bust
ness.
Could the United States afford it?
A reduction of one-half in her mill
tary and naval appropriations Woul9
enable her to save the amount IN
less than twenty years; a reduction
of three-fourths in army and navy
expenses would enable her to save
the amount in less than fifteen
years. 1t will be difficult for the
debtor nations to pay the sum, and
the obligation to pay it is made the
basis for indemnities which, how
ever just, threaten the amlty OF Eu-
rope for generations and thus fur
nish an excuse for military and ma
val expenditures scarcely less bur-
densome than the indemnities.
Would the American people sup
port such a proposition? Why not?
They are. sentimental. They spent
over thirty billions to end war by
means of wari would they not spend
ten billions to end war by peaceful
means? And besides, the American
people are practical. If they can
save enough on military and naval
appropriations in fifteen or twenty
years to compensate them for civ
ing up the debt, why should they
spend two or three times that sum
on army and navy while they con
sumo 100 years in collecting the
debt, not to speak of the possible
dangers that Turk in the attempt to
collect such debt from nations al
. ready over-burdened?
Has this nation any better offer
to make? Is any other nation able
to make so large a contribution to
wards the success of the conference?
copyright, 1921, by United Press