Evening star., 1921-12-29
AMERICAN IDEALS
FACE M|L|TAR|SM
New Phase of Eternal Con-
fIict of Christmas Spirit
With War-W0rn World.
by WILLIAM II. ELLIS.


Christmas week has brought a
clash-a new phase Of the eternal
conflict of the Christmas spirit with
the ways of a war-worn world-be-
tween European militarism and Amer
ican idealism. That, in a sentence, IL
the larger significance of the subma-
rine issue which France has precipl-
tated in the conference.
If France is to have her way con-
cerning submarines and naval aux!i-
iaries, as we'll as Of land armaments.
then the American ideal for the limi-
tation of armaments and for peace
basis of society has oeen for the time
defeated. The postponement OF the
issue as insoluble at washington
means nothing less than this.
Outlook Not Hopeful.
Thus bluntly put, this news is at
first reading depressing to all Dream
Of conducting the affairs of nations.
For, il the conference fails in this one
essential particular, with other graver
and more delicate points still to be
decided, the outlook is dark. II
France can successfully defy the con-
ference upon the question OF suou,a
rines. Japan may hope, win equal
success, to flout it upon the questions
of Manchuria and Siberia.
One of the most distinguished OF the
American technical advisers SAID, upon
learning of the French ultimatum IL Is
only a French gesture: they like TO 90
things that way. France is too sensitive
and sensible a nation to let herself be
put in the attitude Of seeming to wreck
this conference" At this stage Of AFFAIRS
though, gestures are rather risky. l saw
a man ruin his wife's new Christmas
dress by an unintentional gesture nat
spilled LIQUID upon it All kinds OF MUGS
and bric-a-brac and balances are staho-
ing around this conference and likely 10
be upset by unfortunate gesturing.
Tuesday and Wednesday of Christmas
week have seemed like the politicians
days-the triumph of the realist over
the idealists. But it is victory more
apparent than real The conference Is
not over yet.
World Yet to Assert Self
The world is still to be heard from
France cannot afford to ffout the conf
mon conscience of civilization any more
than can Japan: There IS oound 10 ioi.
low a volume of protest from the Whoie
world, including the French public; not
necessarily that Frances point is wrong
and Great Britain's point is right, but a
protest against multiplying the spirit and
ideals of this conference upon Whlch
mankind had set its neaft OF nope. W
true statesman can be blind to the eie-
ment of sentiment with which this con-
vocation has been peculiarly invested.
If this meeting has brought fortn
any on. idea co:nmon to people evrey-
where it is that humanity Is sick
and tired of war and of all Its ways:
This sentiment pervades Asia as well
as the other continents. Over in one
of the ugly, makeshift buildings OF
the Navy Department annex there are
stacked high the written utterances OF
millions and millions of people upon
this theme. Every race and every land
and every condition of men and wom-
en- have made known their will In
black and white.
The Christmas hope of the ages is
best expressed by what this confer
ence represents. 1t is being challeng-
ed by the officialdom of nations which
cannot be convinced that there Is any
other way than the old. old way of
strife and fear and weapons Of might.
The issue is joined with perfect clear
ness. And the men who side with yes
terslay agains: tie men and women WNb
side with tomorrow, are certain to
lose eventually-and likely to lose
Copyright. 1921.)