Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-12-01
SUCCESS ASSURED
FOR CONFERENCE
U. S. PLAN ACCEPTED BY DELE
GATES. MUCH GOOD WILL
AMONG THE DELEGATES.

when in doubt, ask Uncle Ted
was Jacks way of deciding the ques-
tion of whether or not the big con-
ference in Washington was accom-
plishing anything.
So far as ! know" Jack Contin-
ued, "the conference has done more
in the short time II has been in SEES
sion that anything like it ever held
before"
What's the question now" ask
ed Uncle Ted who had just arrived
on the scene.
Freddie was saying the big meet
ing in Washington hadn't done any
thing / said they mad, but If he
wculdn't believe me, 10 ask you
Wan't You tell us sens more about
it?"
"Ill be glad to tell you what !
know, kiddies. There is no doubt
that wonderful steps have been made
at the conference in Washington,
where the eyes of the world are CEN
tered with the hope of practical re-
suits in reduced naval expenditures.
There is no doubt that many big in
ternational questions are close to
solution as a result of the work of
this conference. First of all, dele
gates to ouch an assembly have new
er before met with the same feeling
CT good will brought about by the
splendid way in which our President
called the meeting and by the won
derful manner in which Secretary
of State Hughes opened the first ses-
sion. He laid a definite plan before
them with frankness, so that there
was nothing for the other delegates
to do but fall in line. There has
been no group of countries working
together to put across selfish aims.
Every one of the delegates knows
that he is free to speak what he
wants when he wants to.
cat the recent open session, when
Premier BRAND of France spoke, a
page of history was written that will
never be forgotten. He spoke not
alone to the conference, but'to the
world, to explain why France keeps
such large army and why she must
continue. He wanted to make it
clear that France is not keeping a
large army for the purpose of trying
to go out and fight the world, but as
an absolute necessity protection
against Germany. She does not
want a large army for the sake of
the army. France has already cut
the term of service from three to
two years and We learn she will cut
it further. She cannot do more, I'M
less there is some pledge OF her Sc
curity against further invasion
When we stop to remember that
within the past so years France has
been overrun twice by the same en-
envy, we can understand why BRAND
spoke as he did. If nothing else has
been accomplished, a better under
standing now exists between the
United States and France than ever
before. That means much.
Another situation that is most
important is the relationship be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain. Many things, mostly mis-
understandings. have caused some
feeling. In such a meeting as this
conference has turned out to be, it
is a simple matter to discuss these
relationships, and there is no doubt
that these discussions will have the
right results.
Shp NdhhOl AiOlP buL
success for the conference because
of the almost miraculous results
achieved up to this time. 1t is only
matter of days until the naval arm
ament matter will be settled and a
solution of the far eastern problem
is seen by the pledge of the nations
represented at the meeting. The
question of how to handle China is
the basis of the whole far-east ques-
ton. which is the biggest question
of the conference. A mighty step
toward its solution was reached
when the delegates, meeting in COM
mittee. adopted the resolution pro-
posed by Mr.. Root This resolution
was agreed to by the United States,
Belgium, Great Britain, France, It
ally, Japan, the Netherlands and
Portugal and in effect it means that
these countries pledge themselves to
respect the sovereignty, independ-
ence, and territorial rights of China,
and to give China every opportunity
to grow and put into effect strong
government. More than that. the
resolution also states that these ma
tions pledge to use their influence to
bring about and maintain an equal
opportunity for commerce and in
dustry of all nations throughout all
of China.
Now. let me tell you this, as
think / have said before. There are
lots of knockers, writers who are
looking only on the dark side Of the
conference. They predict only fail
IRE for the meeting. They are, as
the New York Times says, Prophets
of failure. Now, it so happens that
the New York Times has never cared
so much for President Harding nor
his marty. in fact, il supported his