The Washington herald., 1921-11-21
fears FOR SECRET
MOVES u TO BREAK
PREY PLEDGES
Italian Historian Warns
Against Experts Wreck
ing Armament Plans.
By GJGLIELMO FERRERO.
QSoted italian Historian.)

ROME, Nov. -o.-What constitutes
Aerfpsrnidable Importance of the
tucra and decisive proposals con-
eernbg disarmament, formulated by
Secretary Hughes at the first ses-
sion Of the Washington conference?
The answe-that for the first
time one OF the most potent states
OF the world has taken the initia-
tive-m formulating the conditions
on which that state would be dis
possAtp limit ornaments.
TES the ice is broken.
UHao now all of the powers have
fail to declare that they were
readp to limit ornaments. or even
to dRarm, as lonG as there was no
onesab take the first step.
Wanted Neighbor to start.
Every one wanted some neighbor,
to- set the example. Hence nobody
mossd and everybody continued
fevsSshly to arm
Af,tlast a great state has been
fouHf ready to take the others at
their'word by declaring:
to Omit ornaments, providing some
STATE take the initiative, 1 am
rea&y"
The United States has done that
whHh the great nations of the en-
tenfa-Italy, England and France
shoAld have done, II their govern
meNs had been guided into making
pesRe and lofty aim of a truly
w0Ghy victory achieved.
Limitation of ornaments
ought to have been the logical con-
cluapn of the war in which half OF
msak.nd was summoned to arms
asHsF Germany.
Disastrous Even to Victor.
fn-,,worid war proved so muir
derous. so terrible, so disastrous
eYeFIo the victors, because ever
sipre-kST0.- largely, thanks to Ger
mSAy, a new phenomenon, unknown
tonlall previous generations, oc-
cutred in our Western civilization
the phenomenon of a monstrous.
teIgfble and unlimited competition
inIiArming.
rGermany was the home OF this
mcnster which must be destroyed.
tksyi monster which menaced all
Wktern civilizations with destruc-
ii
INSTEAD OF destroying the monster
the,pictors have more or less taken
thsss,place of Germany as worship
pefsi of the monster.
The United States is thus attempt
ing to extract from the victory the
gEHAt benefit which IL contained.
bui (which Europe oerlooked at the
pHaee congress at Paris when II
Guild have saved the world from
MAS feat may. therefore, mark
IA dawn of a new era or at least
aptepuration Of the disease which is
mHnacing Europe and America so
MIA ously.
KIT, History's Critical Moment.
But just on this account IL con-
sututes a critical moment in the
hlAtory Of the world - almost as
CRITICAL as that day in August, 1914.
whom the world conflict began
Whoever cOmprehends the full
bearing Of this moment cannot fail
To, feel himself Eripped with an
Overwhelming anxiety.
Ill., should say that Secretary
Hughes has confronted the world
WITH its conscience. He has bid the
Varld issue from the morbid con-
trad lotions that have MANNED it
fort so many years Of preparing
f6til wars while averring a desire
for peace; OF drifting toward bar
bAfLsm while affirming day and
n1Bbt. that IL was working for civ
iilsation. But it is a hard task for
the United States, and no less for
the other states. Confronted by
thfs dilemma, our future destiny
nust be finally delineated
What a blessing it will prove
fa1ithe whole world If it succeeds
Blsa II il fails the world will be
psHcipitated into yet more profound
aM&rchy.
PLEASED by Hughes Frsnkness.
ifLet nobody be deluded by the IA
w with which the proposals have
deem received. After SO many lies.
soamany contradictions SO many
pssplexities. this frank, almost bru-
taki candor has pleased. But the
Wvfd will not make an examina-
t.pn of its conscience, or make a
cAnice of peace or war imposed by
AMERICA, without pain or without
rssistance.
1.-THE American proposals will be
gfReted with acquiescent bows and
oppose openly. But what insidious
rlaneuvers will Turk behind her
back in the matter of technical de-
taifs and practical applications in
sstret discussions among the vari-
ols commissions?
,,Lhose whom I fear most are the
sareslled experts - the invisible
rurks hidden under the water
(which already, at Paris have shin
wrseked many good proposals.
The limitation Of ornaments is
naA technical question or a mill
tary art 1t is a political and
nfurel question OF the most vital i'm
p0rrance to the whole world
Sfatesmen, II they had the wis
dom. intelligence and authority
equal to the needs of the hour,
would solve il by their own initia-
TIVE only consulting the naval and
military experts concerning details