Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-23
Wednesday, November %, 1921
THE CONFERENCE

OF her nelEhDOrS IN the WOTIO tldH
was made in the proposal for naval
reduction. By it we first disarmed
suspicion; by it we cut to the quick
of our splendid naval development
and spared not ourselves. BY it
plan was proposed in which all the
experts of all the nations involved
are unable to find material defects.
BY it was made glorious exemplifi-
cation of the spirit in which we went
to war and the way shown to enjoy
the fruits Of the hardest won peace
ever achieved.
All this was not lost on the peoples
interested. Already the sentiment in
al the countries affected is rising in
support of the plan, which the rep
resentatives have virtually accepted
without serious modification, Mr..
Balfour speaking for England de-
clares that it makes idealism "a prac-
teal proposition" 1t all is nothing
short Of marvellous, exceeding the ex-
pectations of the most hopeful.
These accomplishments should not
be forgotten, for criticism will not
spare the work of the conference. 1t
doubtless will be said that we only
stop building war craft which are
shown to be fast becoming obsolete:
that we accomplish nothing of account
in the limitation of that most threat
ening phase of warfare, the aerial;
that our agreements respecting the
Orient have no assuring support and
are but temporary. Indeed il is not
improbable some will arise in the fu-
ture to condemn US for scrapping
so much as is now proposed. All this,
however. should be expected and
when it comes 1t will not have in sup
port of it any great naval program,
no powerful fleet to cruise around the
world Haunting our power, offering
place for the ambitious to excel in
the arts of warfare, nor will it serve
to greatly encourage any clique of
interests to fatten off the appropria-
tons for self defense" Nor need one
lie awake nights in fear Of invasion
OF our shores by foreign enemies.
Admitting the Conference is likely
to take but one distinguished for
ward step. the reduction of naval
armament, that alone will be tremen-
sous in Importance. Millions which
otherwise would have gone to the
piling up of armament, and hun
dreds of thousands who would be at
tracted to this development, whose
ambitions and cupidity would be in
volved in it, will be diverted to other
pursuits, and development along
peace lines which otherwise would
not have been possible may now be
undertaken. Not only that, but the
example of sincere effort to i'm
prove world conditions, the willing
ness of a people to make sacrifices
to a common end will not be lost on
the imagination of the coming gem
erations. History will record that on
the day America stood up and threw
its cards on the table there was an
10 ft,{
hope of secret diplomacy to control
the Conference, and future procedure
will not be unmindful of it. An Of
fer had been made that all the world
might read-and did read and how
ever much of conniyance there might
be among cliques and IN secret the
fact remained that an answer must
be made that the world might read
The answer is being made. AS
each spokesman responds for his
country the qualification of those who
hoped for success from the confer
ence increases. Already it is seen
that there can be no backing away
from the issue. Japan, with SEEM
Ing reluctance. now appears con-
WINGED there is nothing for her to do
but accept. The unusual conditions
surrounding that country's future are
potential sources of trouble which all
the conferences in the world posi-
bly, may not obviate, but a beginning
is now being made; a habit Of peo-
pies to talk matters over before re-
sorting to extreme measures is pos
sibly established. And while the Con-
ference conceivably might do much
more than now is likely, it also
might through such attempt fail al
together. Let US hope that the un-
dertakings begun, naval reduction
and clearer comprehension among
peoples. better understanding of pol
icies and what they inevitably lead to
and We hope convincing the Orient
that way may be found to preserve
their rights and punish their iniqui-
ties-that this much may be speedily
accomplished and the Conference ad-
journed to next year.
No turkey in nina this Tha ME