Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-21
LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN

There isn't any doubt about the public de-
mand for a reduction in armament II it can be
done in conjunction with the rest of the world,
especially by the leading nations. Apparently
this public demand has at last had its effect
on congress.
There has been a sudden shift among the
senator's on this question. Senator Borah has
had a resolution before the senate for some
time calling upon the President to invite Great
Britain and Japan to meet with the United
state to discuss q naval truce. 1t is under
<tood that President Harding has been opposed
to the passage of such a resolution at this
time, although he has professed to believe in
the idea.
But Senator Borah has persisted and he has
bad the backing of a large majority of the
people who are tired of paying enormous taxes
only to have 90 per cent. of the money thus
given the government spent on war.
Every nation In the world is crying for re-
lief from the burden of armament. Billions of
dollars are being spent annually in construc-
ting great fleets and creating large standing
armies intended to carry on the work OF de-
struction with which we became so familiar
during the recent war. 1t was the cry then
that the late war was to be the last one' put
those in authority. now that the war is over.
seem to have forgotten the horrors that then
nlled every land. One would have thought that
the very first move after peace was declared
would be to plan for disarming the nations SO
that the danger of another war would De les
sened. Naturally, no one nation Is going 10
disarm while the rest are going in Tor arma-
ment harder than ever. but with all nations
moving in the same direction there is no rea-
son why something worth while could not be
accomplished.
The proper nation to lead this movement for
disarmament is the United States OF America
Instead, therefore, Of adopting an army and
navy program that Is greater than ever before
it i/our duty to exert every effort to get other
- Qons cease the mad pace that is only
leading to Bankruptcy for all. The main object
Of the League of Nations was to accomplish
this very thing. Strange as it may seem. SEN
afor Borah, who is most %insistent on passing a
resolution leading up to disarmament is the
very man who is most bitterly opposed to the
League of Nations.
nut League of Nations or no League OF Ma
lions, any movement that will bring about an
international agreement looking toward a re-
duction in armament is to be welcomed. the
/cry for this relief has become go persistent that
President Harding has found 1t inexpedlent TO
resist it any longer and with his objection TO
the Borah resolution removed the opposition
in the senate has faded. 1t is now freely pre-
dicted that the resolution will speedily be pass
ed and the President will, before very long,
call upon Great Britain and Japan to meet
with the United States to consider a naval truce
for five years. This is not disarmament by any
means, but it is a step in that direction. A
naval truce between these three powers would
mean that all agreed not to add a single unit
to their respective navies for the next five
wears, BY that time a real disarmament move