Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-16

AZ ASSN
Washington, Nov is (by the AS
sociated Press. )-The official text
of Arthur Balfours address at the
armament conference today follows
in part:
"Mr. Chairman: You have in
vited those who desire to continue
the discussion which began Satur'
day. l think it would be very I'M
fortunate if we were to allow the
events of Saturday to pass without
some further observation on the
part of those to whom you, Mr.
Chairman, addressed your speech
and, If for any reason which
shall venture to explain, i am the
first to take up-the challenge, 1t Is
because, of all the powers here as
sembled, the country which | rep
resent Is, as everybody knows, the
most intimately interested in all
naval questions.
Difficulties of Peace.
Statesmen of all countries are
beginning to discover that the
labors and difficulties of peace are
almost as arduous and require al
most as great qualities as those
which are demanded for the con-
duct of successful war.
"These struggles to restore the
world to the condition of equilib-
rum, so violently interferred with
by five years of war is one that
taxes and must tax the efforts of
everybody. And ! congratulate you,
If / may, Mr. Chairman, on the fact
that you have added the new an
niversary which will henceforth be
celebrated in connection with TINS
towards reconstruction
in the same spirit in which we well
coined the anniversary celebrated
only a few hours ago, on the day
on which hostilities came to an
end.
II count myself among the for
tunate in that / was present, ana 10
that extent had a share in the pro-
ceedings of last Saturday. They
were memorable indeed.
"Mr. Chairman, in absolute I'M
plicity of the procedure, the easy
transition and the great dramatic
climax, were the perfection of art,
which shows that the highest ART
and the most perfect simplicity
are very often, indeed very COM
monty, combined.
Profoundly Concerned.
Now / said / would explain, II l
was allowed, why l venture to rise
first to deal with the subject Whlch
is in all our hearts. AS | have
hinted. 1t is because the British en-
pire and Great Britain, these TWO
together, are more profoundly con-
cerned with all that touches mat
ters naval than it is possible TOT
INV other nation to be, and this not
believe me. for any reasons Of am
bition, not for any reasons drawn
from history or tradition put IRON,
the hard, brutal necessities ol
claims and obvious facts.
"There never has been In the MS
tory of the world a great empire
as the British empire
IS. It is a fact no doubt famlllar
% everybody whom l am address
ng at the present moment, out
1as everybody whom I am address
ng imaginatively conceived pre-
,lsely what the situation OF the
British empire is in this connec-
ion? ,
Admiration and Approval.
1--WE have had to consider, ana
we have considered. the great
scheme laid before you by our
chairman. We have considered II
With admiration and approval. we
agree with it in spirit and n
We look to it as beins
he basis of the greatest reform,
n the matter of armament ana
for war that has ever
,een conceived or carried out by
he courage and patriotism OF
statesmen. I do not pretend, of
would be folly to pre-
end--that this or any other
scheme, by whatever genius 1t may
rave been contrived, can dea! with
very subject; can cover the whcle
sroup of international reconstEuc-
ion. 1t would be folly to make
he attempt and 1t would be folly
o pretend that the attempt has
yet been made in any single
cheme as was most clearly ex-
,lained by the secretary of state
yesterday. The scheme deals and
leals only with three nations
which own the largest fleets in
he world. 1t, therefore, of ne
essity omits all consideration for
he time being of those European
lations who have diminished their
leets and who at present have no
lesire, and ! hope never will have
my desire, to own fleets beyond