New-York tribune., 1921-11-13


massing of war material, are trans
forming the armed peace Of our days
in a crushing burden, which the peo-
Piles have more and more difficulty in
bearing. 1t appears evident, then,
that if this state of things were pre-
longed it would inevitably lead to tic
calamity which it is desired to avert
and the horrors of which make every
thinking man shudder in advance.
To put an end to these incessant ar
maments and to seek the means of
warding off the calamities which are
threatening the whole world-such is
the supreme duty which is to-day i'm
posed on all states.
ut was with this sense of obliga-
tion that his majesty, the Emperor
of Russia, proposed the conference,
which was TO ocupy itself with this
grave problem and which met at
The Hague in the year 1899.
German Refusal to Join
In arms Parley Recalled
Important as were the delbera-
tions and conclusions of that confer
ence, especially with respect to the
pacific settlement of international
disputes, its result in the specific
matter Of limitation of armament
went no further than the adoption
Of a final resolution setting forth
~iv>tA l,ok o@,.so
military charges, which are at pres
ent heavy burden on the world, is
extremely desirable for the increase
Of the material and moral welfare
of mankind, and the utterance Of
the wish that the governments may
examine the possibility Of an agree
ment as to the limitation of armed
forces by land and sea and of war
budgets.
1T was seven years later that the
Secretary of State of the United
States, Mr.. Elihu Root, in answering
a note of the Russian Ambassador
suggesting in outline program of
the second peace conference, said:
1.-THE government Of the United
States, therefore, feels it to be it's
duty to reserve for itself the lib
erty to propose to the second peace
conference, as one of the subjects
for consideration, the reduction or
limitation of ornaments, in the hope
that, if nothing further can be ac-
oh, oil oh oIv
may be made toward the realization
of the lofty conception which actu-
ated the Emperor of Russia in call
ing the first conference.
at is significant that the impe-
rial German government expressed
itself as absolutely opposed to the
question Of disarmament and that
the Emperor Of Germany threat
ened to decline to send delegates
if the subject of disarmament was
to be discussed. In view, however,
of the resolution which had been
adopted at the first Hague confer
ence, the delegates of the United
States were instructed that the sub
ject Of limitation of armament
should be regarded as unfinished
business, and that the second CON
ference should ascertain and give
full consideration to the result of
such examination as the governments
may have given to the possibility Of
an agreement pursuant to the wish
expressed by the first conference.
But by reason Of the obstacles
which the subject had encountered,
the second peace conference at The
Hague, although it made notable
progress in provision for the peace
full settlement of controversies, was
unable to deal with limitation Of ar
mament except by resolution in the
following general terms:
"The conference confirms the
resolution adopted by the conference
of 1899 in regard to the limitation
of military expenditure; and mas
much as military expenditure has
considerably increased in almost
every country since that time, the
conference declares that it is emf
nently desirable that the govern
ments should resume the serious ex-
animation Of this question:
Recent Var Was Climax
OF Failure to Heed Signs
This was the fruition of the ef-
forts of eight years. Although the
effect was clearly perceived, the race
in preparation of ornaments, wholly
unaffected by these futile sugg ggestions.
went on until it fittingly eliminated
in the greatest war of history; and
we are now suffering from the un-
paralleled loss of life. the destruc-
tion of hopes, the economic disloca-
tions and the widespread impoverish-
ment which measure the cost of the
victory over the brutal pretcnsions
of military force
but If we are warned by the in
adequacy of earlier endeavors for
limitation of armament, we cannot
fail to recognize the extraordinary
opportunity now presented.
I'VE not only have the lessons of
the past to guide US, not only do we
have the reaction from the disillu-
sioning experiences of war, but we
must meet the challenge of impera-
tive economic demands. What was
convenient or highly desirable be-
fore is now matter of vital neces-
,sity If there is to he economi. 70