New-York tribune., 1921-11-11
Disarmament Is Worlds
Desire, Declares Brit
ish Leader, Sounding
Keynote of Optimism
Confidence Shared
By Other Delegates
Belief Prevails They Will
Not Dare Go Back Emp
ty Handed to People
Who Weary of Burdens
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-"This
is the worlds desire; it will not fail
Of accomplishment"
This concluding line of a formal
statement by Arthur j. Balfour, for
nier Prime Minister of the British
Empire. and head of the British DEL
egation to the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament in the alb
sence of Premier Lloyd George, is
the keynote of the attitude in which
every nation is approaching the con-
ference which was called for to-
morrow, and which will formally
open on Saturday.
The words are significant in that
they describe the attitude in which
every national has approached the con-
ference. and the significance is gem
orally interpreted by observers here
In one way-that the men who will
control the conference will not dare 90
PACK to their homes with a confession
of failure. va S''0''
Delegates Dare Not Fail
Even those who are most cvn;c.,
about the possibility of success Of the
conference are too impressed with this
thought. and after listening to the
protestations of the arriving delegates
nave reached the conclusion that the
delegates dare not go home admittinp
they were unable to find a solution of
the questions which the conference
was called to decide.
The cynics say that if the confer
ence is a failure, as of course thew
believe it will be, the delegates viii
patch up in secret something wb;ch
will look like successful culmination
because they will not go home with
out one.
Following is the text of Mr.. Bal
four's statement,
1t is more than four years since
ieft this well-remembered scene and
paid farewell to my many friends at
washington. 1t was most critical
stage OF the great war, and notwith-
ssandlng that there was nothing more
70 be feared from the enemy's battle
ships, the submarine campaign. though
It's intensity had somewhat diminished.
was still most formidable. In the West
ana IN the East the victory by land
hung in the balance.
America, from the Atlantic to the
racine, animated by single spirit.
was concentrating her vast resources
ana preparing to throw her whole
Strength into the world struggle. We
al know the result. 1t came moro
completely and more quickly than most
oI US mad dared to hope; and exactly
three years ago the greatest of vic
torres concluded the greatest of wars.
Victory ne po,ca noy,r.I
Il little thought, when took leave
oi 1hose from whom l had received
sucn endless kindness, that I should
again be called upon to revisit it as
tne representative Of Great Britain:
still less did I think that three wears
after the armistice was signed our
waole thoughts would still be directed
sHowards H completing the work of peace.
put so it is. Nothing could less re-
semble the work that had to be done
N 1917 than the work in which we are
allconcerned in 1921. Yet they are not
eeh'y intimately connected, but they
form part OF the same great interna-
uonal endeavor; and he would be a
assa "a prophet who would say that the
victories Of peace are easier of attain
@eas s than the victories of war.
but surely we may approach these
-. ,DOAo IA SplTiC OIL commence
ana high hope. We must not, indeed.
either ask for or expect the impossible,
although what is within our reach is
worth our utmost efforts. And | cam
not doubt that under the wise guidance
OF your President we shall be fortu-
aate enough to attain it,
Most happy was the inspiration
which moved him to summon this con-
terence. / am convinced that all those
who are going to meet here in counsel.
and the governments which they repre-
sent, are resolved to the best of their
ability to cooperate with him in max
ing It success. This is the worlds
desire; it will not fail of achieveme nt."
All Groups Share Optimism
There is no doubt about this opti-
mlsm, as expressed by Mr.. Balfour. be-
ing felt by the American delegation, by
lne French, by the Japanese, by every
single group which has arrived. AS
70 how far some of them are willing to
go,nothing is better illustration than
the case OF the French, who are willing,
IS told in another column, to give up
CONTINUED on page thrse)