Evening star., 1921-11-10
LIMITATION ISSUE
MUST STAY ATFORE

Sidetracking of Armament
Settlement for Far East AT.
fairs Looked at Askance.
Any suggestion that the question
Of the Limitation Of ornaments, which
ton conference now assembling, be
sidetracked and left until all Of the
Tar eastern problems have been solved
will not only be looked at askance.
but will result in serious criticism in
quarters that have backed. the con-
ference from the start.
The view taken Of the situation by
some of the close students here is
that it may require many years to
solve all of the problems of the Pa
cific; that their solution, even If
achieved, may be only an Overnight
affair.
If the question Of Limitation Of ar
maments Is to be sidetracked. they
say. until it is finally determined
wLat is to become Of all the various
spheres Of infiLence" In China, Of
Shantung. and other portions OF the
empire. then there is less hope for
the Limitation Of armameats in the
near future.
See Hope Through Arms Cut.
On the other hand, il there is an
agreement to limit armaments, it is
urged, there will be much less prob
ability OF the nations going to war
over questions of the far east; they
will be more inclined to settle them
through diplomatic channels or by ar
bitration.
t As far as the United States itsel,
is concerned, it Is scarcely conceiva-
bic that the American people will
send a navy into the east to compel
the settlement OF, for instance, the
Shantung problem.
Some Of the supporters Of the ar
| naHssnt -confcrencs Therefore. ar
taking the position that to give all
the prominence to the settlement OF
far eastern questions and to mini
mize the armaments question would
! be a serious mistake The public they
say. in this country. as well as i'll
Japan. Great Britain ard other ma
tions, is far more interested today In
the proposal to limit srmapents, and
lessen the huge tax burdens now on
the shoulders Of all the peoples. thar
in the settlement of any particular
problem in the Pacific.
senate Action Significant.
The demand for the fullest publicity
Of the conference action and discus
sions is in line with the demand for
some settlement of the armaments
question. The action Of the Senate
in passing the Harrison resolution
calling upon the American dele
gates to the conference to seek such
publicity was taken as significant. Cn.
doubtedly there are advocates Of
publicity who would have preferred
to see the resolution kept before the
Senate instead of being passed. at least
for a few days. so that it might have
been debated more fully, and. so To-
cused attention upon the matter.
Senator Borah of Idaho, who has
been one of the chief advocates Of tht
fullest publicity of the conference do
inIs, will speak the night OF Armi
take the need for such publicity as his
topic. He speaks again at mass
meeting in New York sunday night,
when he. will again touch upon 'nat
issue.
Senator Borah received call at the
Capitol yesterday from Viscount Shibu-
zawa OF Japan, reputed to be the
! wealthiest man In. the Japanese en-
pire. The veteran business man OF
the orien:-he made his great for
tame in mines. shipping and other In
dustries-has In recent years taken E
keen interest in the movement II in
IRRATIONAL peace. He Is backing the
arm penr ccDfe renee He "a He'd BpOr
Senator Borah as one of the leading
proponents in this country on the
iimita tion of armament
During their conversation, 1t Is un-
derstood, the Japanese expressed the
geratest confidence In the sentiment
in Japan in favor of limiting arma-
ments The anti-militartStic element,
he said, Is dominant
yiscount 81 Years Old.
viscount Shibugawa is eighty-two
years old. but remarkable for his
energy and interest in public ques-
tions.
He did not discuss with Senator
Borah the recent assassination OF
Premier Hara Of Japap.
Incidentally, however. the forma-
tion of the new japanese government
is being awaited with the keenest
interest here. particularly with re-
gard to the possible effect II may
have on the policy of Japan toward
! the conference. The formation. of q
coalition government, taking in the
militaristic element. would be more
or less serious blow, It Is said in
| some quarters. to the ultimate success
Of the conference.