Evening star., 1921-06-23
Peace Promotion and Disarmament.

Though we are not to have q world
league Of the Versailles model. either
with the result Of preventing war or
of facilitating and multiplying wars, it
Is inconceivable that the world war
should end without being followed
by agreements between nations which
will tend to prevent future war Q) by
future approximate disarmaments, or
by cessation Of competitive increases
Of armament, (2) by the establishment
of international courts, if not for COM
pulsory arbitration of all s'ar-causlng
issues, then for the arbz<ation. COM
pulsory or voluntary ~ as large a
measure as possible oS such issues;
ansa l0 by notifications of interna-
tiosas he. disrupted by the new con.
ditions devesuped II 1he war.
War under the surface OF the sea
and in the air has put out Of date the
old international law GOVERNING war
fare. both by land and SEA. In re-
drafting international law che aim will
be to get as much of Justice and Of
war-prevention into the relations of
nations as can possibly ba secured. To
this end as a minimum of accomplish.
ment there should be effected con-
ciliation and compulsory arbitration
agreement which shah enforce peace
more effectively thEn has been possible
heretofore. Nevsr before has there
been so wonderful an opportunity to
secure the making and keeping of such
an agreement. Never before was the
world so war-weary; never before were
so many nations gathered at the peace
table.
So far as disarmament propositions
are concerned it cannot be forgotten
that the viewpoints Of victors' league
ending justly the present war and Of
q world league planning in peace
time for a continuance of universal
peace are Numerically in opposition.
The two leagues are based on differ.
ent principles and their decisions are
enforced by different powers. The vic.
tors league Is based upon the aggre-
nsas srengtn uf the nations that won
the war. The world league is based
upon mutual agreement of all nations,
Including neutrals and vanquished, as
well as victors. In the first, power
Of control is frankly exercised by a
few great associated nations. In the
second, power Of control is to be ex-
ercised on representative and equitable
principles by all the world. Under
victors' league disarmament is only
Of the defeated. The victor takes away
the vanquished's gun and retains his
own. getting and keeping the drop"
on the enemy as long az is necessary
to perfect the victory. Disarmament
under a world league is not discrim-
inatory, but universal. Everybody
gives up his guns or a part Of his guns.
For the present in the interest Of
enduring peace Germany must give
up all it's guns, which it has misused;
and the victors' league must keep its
guns loaded, cooked and aimed, until
all the reparations demanded by JUS
tice in a peace Of victory have been
made, and guarantees that for the near
future Germany will keep the peace
have been secured. largely through
German disablement to do otherwise.
In the peace Of the ideal worlds league
the victors Of today must logically be
disarmed as thoroughly as the van.
quished. Frances army gun and Brit
aims navy gun must be put on the
table along with those of Germany and
Austria.
Arrangements for the possible pre-
Eention Of future wars by universal
agreement will not be permitted to de-
lay or embarrass or weaken the pro-
visions for ending the present war and
preventing its recurrence by disabling
the would.be world conquerors and
keeping them disabled by the exercise
Of victors' might.
The United States, like the other
great powers, will doubtless follow the
middle course in respect to disarma-
ment and preparedness.
On the one hand. war.weariness
and taxpayers pocketbook exhaustion
drive us all toward disarmament or
radical reductions of the high cost Of
armament. On the other hand, the
lessons vividly impressed by the worlds
recent war experiences Of the wisdom
and necessity of preparedness counsel
retention of armaments.
Until this war is ended and the terms
Of its ending are obeyed or enforced
there will be no real disarmament Of
the victors: only Of the vanquished.
France will not disarm on land;
Great Britain will not disarm at sea.
After our Army and Navy strength
has been by appropriative action by
Congress fixed in accordance with the
war lessons of the necessity Of pre-
paredness and in consistency with the
debated condition of the national
pocketbook we can and should, and
doubtless will. push vigorously for
cooperation with England and Japan
in cessation of competitive naval arma.
Snents.
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