The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-12-08

ment for the conference on the limita-
ton Of armament which now has be-
gun its sessions.
Today men Of many nations are sit
ting down together In an attempt to
right the world. Millions Of the
earth's people are watching the pro
ceedings and hoping for relief from In
tOlerable burdens. The administra-
ton is asking for the support Of all
Americans for the endeavor which Il
initiated. The United States already
has promised. II the others agree to
follow suit. to scrap many warships.
This is the time of the beginning Of
what not at all lightly may be called
q Showdown" on war and on arma.
ments. Every conferee plenipoten-
tiary knows that the people Of his
country want success to come out Of
the labor that has just started in this
Capital city.
II viii not be long before the Amer
lean people. watching the progress Of
the conference, will be able to deter
mine whether the rulers and the diplo-
mats and the professional officials of
the countries If the world desire sue
cess, or hope that the old order which
gave to them the opportunity. but not
the right, to shape national destinies
shall prevail.
IN articles which have attempted to
give the Washington view Of the vari-
Gus contendine elements which enter
into the work In hand. the extreme
pacifists, the billiards who won't I'M
derstand, and the militarists all have
been described after their kind.
Washington believes today that some
Of the opponents Of success will try to
influence the conferees this way or
that way and will resort TO all kinds
Of technical and delaying lodges.
No American Suspicion Of Japan.
II is going to be something Of an
American diplomatic task to keep the
various conferees In the straight path
to the main point, "the limitation of
armament" II can he said. Of course,
with a certain definiteness, that II some
problems are solved satisfactorily. n
limitation quickly can be put upon the
ornaments Of the world. The prickly
pear cactus grows in the path leading
through the chaprrral intricacies Of
diplomacy as II affects the Far East
In this connection II can be said to-
day that the American government
seemingly entertains no suspicion OF
the good faith of the japanese, who
are naturally most concerned In the
methods of the solution of Oriental
problems 1t remains for the Japanese
to show as the conference proceeds
whether or not the faith Of the Amer
lean State department is misplaced.
There seems to be a recognition In
Washington Of the need of Japan for
space somewhere for her surplus popu-
lation and for enlarged trade cOndi-
tons which will make her people pros
porous.
Military and Naval Men Agree.
There are advisers In military and
naval matters for each country's body
Of conferees. Thus far In the pre-
liminaries there has not come from a
single soldier or sailor an intimation
Of q desire that present conditions In
ornaments shall continue. American
naval men seem to be willing to cut
ornaments, and so do American army
men, although they know of the pos
sibility Of loss Of the means Of live.
lih0Od for many Of their brethren
trained to arms. The American sailors
have aCquiesced In h proposal to scrap
many of their ships.
What has been said here Of Ameri-
can military men applies equally
strongly to the representatives of the
armed services Of other countries.
They seem to be looking at the whole
matter unselfishly. and as truth gen.
orally Is to be found with the uni
fa.,. thara Ia liffla rs.asnn IN fni,bt