The Washington herald., 1921-07-12
Disarmament Conference.

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American people have beeh getting rather
impatient and have been inclined to feel
that the administration should swap the old chase
and Dobbin for motor car in getting action as
to disarmament. But Secretary Hughes in formal
announcement, tells the public that the multi
plicty of other affairs has not sidetracked this
On behalf of President Harding he has sent
formal inquiry to the allied powers represented
the supreme council, if it would be agreeable to
them to take part in conference this subject
to be held in Washington"
1t is entirely safe to say that ne knows in ad
that this will be acceptable. Gaining this ad
vance acceptance to predate the formal invitation
has undoubtedly been the cause of seeming delay.
The meeting of the British dominion premiers with
their objection to the renewal of the pact with ia
pah has probably fastened the conclusion. The an
of Mr. Hughes says it is manifest
that the question OF armament has close relation
to the Pacific and Far Eastern problems" and that
the interested powers should undertake in connec-
ton with the conference, the consideration of all
matters bearing upon their solution with view to
reaching a common understanding with respect to
principles and policies in the Far East"
The Herald is not a prophet a seer
have we any sources of information not open to
all other newspapers But have forecast that
when any settlement was undertaken with Japan, it
would be all-inclusivc and not be simply a nibble
at the cherry. 1t would be manifesty futile to
dertake an agreement on disarmament without
reaching agreement those questions which
the of armament. Moreover the United
States, than Great Britain to this
try. can effect an agreement these which
will affect all of that empire and all other
tions having Far Eastern interests
Even the question Of immigration is one equally
OF moment to Canada, Australia and New Zealand
who take exactly the American position 1t may
be that South America would prefer that the jap
remain in the Orient. Yap is allied to Meso-
potamia and to all mandates we'll as to part
ncrship rights in ali former German possessions
Other countries are affected equally with the United
States in Japanese expansion based upon or carry
ing political power. control. 1t is not of excu-
svc interest to whether not Japan absorbs
Shantung and Siberia as she has Korea and to a
large extent Manchura.
1t is political expansion and not economic
pansion which makes necessary great armies and
navies. Armament is not needed to protect equal
economic opportunity but to defend political advan
tagc resulting in economic advantage. Whether
the flag follows the dollar the dollar follows the
flag, does matter. but it is vital whether not
the flag represents insistence political pref
erence.
The article on manufactures in the league of ma
tons recognized this distinction and expressly pro-
vided as to classes A and B, that no permanent
political power and economic advantage or pref
erence should go with a mandate to mandatory
territory, 1t is this principle ampfed which
seems inevitably to be the principles and policies"
thority preference in the territory OF other
ence as basis for disarmament When agree
nncnt is reached that the "open door" is direct
prohibition of the acquiring of any political
thority preference in the territory of other
81 will he
mcnts whose people have investments in other
countries will then act cojointIy in preserving for
them a square deal and fair treatment by the
debtor governments, the governments of the
debtor people.