Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-12-12
Yacht TRIP AND
THE Conf ERENCE
T. NJ. Smiley Writes Interest
ing Letter From Wash
ingtOn About Con-
= ference.
HOW IDEA ORIGINATED
Harding Conceived Plan
While on a Yachting
I Trip.
HOW IDEA ORIGINATED
By Il. Nj. SMILEY.

Washington, ID. C.. Dee. 7.-'How
come:' said an old colored man
who had drfted down 10y the Pan
American Union, and was told in ans
wcr To !; question, that world confer
Cncc TO destroy battleships and stop
wars was in progress. He stood and
looked in wonderment.
Well, there has been considerable dis
crssion as to just how this conference
did come. Where did the thought origi-
nate. and what will it lead to? Some
times the incentive of thought, the
thought. the action, will all come with
in a second; it is over and forgotten.
Another thought will revofve in ones
subconscious mind for days. weeks,
months or years. 1t is not clear yet.
1t can not he stated in willing words:
neither. can it be written in lucid Ian
guagc But it is there. Time passes.
Other thoughts from other avenues
come into the mind. The first germ Of
thought grows. expands. little more
light comes. Another or others may be
thinking along exactly the same line.
each of two or three of orr greatest
discoveries in recent years We're
brought to light simultaneously from
strangers TO each other.) Finally.
ines suddenly, the germ of
thought becomes fixed fact. a positive
thing. Maybe there is an invention:
maybe discovery made, or a world
movement or organization is started
and every person in the world will come
uEder it's influence. How long and
hard. too. we will puzzle over an idea.
scclsig Il solution. and give it mp. Then
suddenly it will all be as pla in as day,
and we will wonder why it was ever
difficult
y league of nations has been talked
of and tried for hundreds Of years. \
thing Of such scope is difficult to ac-
complish. In 1920 Mr.. Harding declar-
ed against Il league, but favored some
kind 0f an association of nations. The
world has the experience Of past lea
cues and Hagues. and a great war.
The present conference is only a be-
ginning There is talk of IL fournation
association now. Watch and see wheth-
er Il world association will come out of
this conference.
Erglish-Jap Alliance.
Last summer there was a meeting in
London Of the premiers of Canada, New
Zealand. South Africa. Australia and
India 10 determine whether the Anglo
japanese alliance. made about 20 years
ago for the mutual interest" of the
Very particular point in question was.
would Great Britain aid Japan in case
of war between the United States and
Japan? England and .imcric; have
beeh enjoying Il constantly increasing
friendship recently. Australia and New
Zealand. comparatively close 10 Japan,
and Canada. on the Pacific. naturally
were opposed TO IL renewal that would
possibly mean any such thing as
break in the EngliSh-speaking peoples.
Trouble was seen to be ahead on ac
count of the distribution of the former
German Pacific islands. Britain's
greatest possessions border on the Paci
fic. There are indications that these
British dominions in some respects are
very friendly to the United States So
is England London did not like TO adj
wise Japan she could not renew the
treaty, ana the British legal depart
melit relieved the situation for the time
being by declaring the alliance legally
shouid continue another year.
Tll9 United States also did not like the
Angio-Japanese alliance. although it did
lot ike TO say so. Senator Borah had
been fighting in the senate for a CON
ference on naval armament reduction
ly the United States. Great Britain and
japan. President Harding favored a
conference. when one would he called,
of Bucll wider international scope. In
, tcrnaii0na affairs were in very bad
shapa, especially in Europe and Asia.
Japan did not now fear Russia or Ger
many, so the Notwithstanding peoples
have been saying what is the use of
an Anglo-Japanese alliance anyway:
IN fact. with such alliance continued.
il was thought in some quarters, Japan
might feel more free to have her way
ia China by reason of the freedom that
might be assumed from such alliance.
Thcn. too. how could there be disarm-
amCnt or much limitation of armament
so hong as Far Eastern and related
questions were SO complicated? Ii
there would be any armament limta-
ton then there must be settlement
of the other questions also. If such II
conference would accomplish limitation
and Ear Eastern settlements. then there
: would he no necessity for renewal of
the alliance next summer. Although