New-York tribune., 1921-11-15
Far East Shadow Still Hangs
Over Conference, Says Simonds
Chorus of Approval Superficial, He Believes; Diplo
mats See Peril in Disarming Peaceful Nations
Unless Irritating Questions Are Adjusted

at a policy which contemplates dis
arming peaceful powers, such as the
United States and Great Britain, with
out providing any means of dealing
with predatory powers such as still
exist in the world.
The chorus of applause that one
hears in foreign papers does not ac-
curately represent the present opinion
of those who have to deal directly with
international relations. This Is be-
| cause Europe cannot separate the CUES
tions of armaments from the question
of policies, and still finds itself fear
full Of what may be consequence
of disarmament Of the United States
and Great Britain in the existing
situation of the world and without any
compact for common action in case Of
danger to either.
Europe is going to make the test Of
pract ticability of Mr.. Hughes's pro-
posal not on his disarmament
program. Worldwide popular in
dorsement Of Mr.. Hughes's program in
the scrapping Of ships and of the ten
year naval holiday has been imm ediate
and complete. But it has excited pro-
found apprehension in the minds not
merely of those statesmen who are
described or denounced as chauvinistic
and militarstic, but even more con-
spicuously in the minds of the Liberals.
Far East Shadow Bulks Large
AS a consequence of the initial i'm
pulse given by Mr.. Hughes in his
Saturday, this conference will be pop
ularly understood as one having to do
with the limitation Of ornaments, But
despite this popular conception, the
shadow of the Far Eastern situation
overhangs the conference and bulks
large in the minds of all foreign states
men and journalists.
In addition, the gulf between the
American and European conception of
international affairs remains as broad
and deep as it was at Paris. Were it
ments of the Europeans who are here
in public capacity this point could be
made clear. AS it is, formal and
courteous commendation is being widely
mistaken, just as it was in Paris, as
a whole-hearted acceptance Of the
American point of view, and this is not
the case.
At Paris American and European
views were mutually and totally in
comprehensive. Out of this situation
came disaster and it would be silly
same fundamental divergences of opin-
ion is going to have important bear
ings on the later stages Of the Wash
. ington conference. Asia and not arma-
ment has entirely obscured tie prob
lens Of the Pacifc-a circumstance
which may have great consequences
hereafter.
On the larger side, however, informed
opinion tonight divides thus: One
group believes that Mr.. Hughes has
still another bomb ready or in the
making. The other accepts as set
tied fact that we are to have a large
measure Of disarmament, considerable
agreement on Far Eastern questions
without any pressing of dangerous is
sues, an agreement which will not solve
or settle what is perhaps insoluble, but
on the surface will seem to settle and
ir fact, may postpone or even prevent
American-Japanese collision. This lat
ter group believes that Mr.. Hughes
has abandoned an extreme policy in
the Far East, such as Washington
ascribed to him a month ago. And in
this latter view l concur. To me the
Saturday declaration was, in fact, an
actual volte- face