The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-16

HOLDS It's FIRST
MEETING
Statesmen and Diplo-
mats From Nine
Powers Gathered to
Confer on Li1nita-
ton Of Arnanents

told possibilities, the armament
conference assembled today.
Gathered about the table We're
chosen representatives OF the 1lVe
great world powers-the United
States. Great Britain, Italy, France
and Japan.
Seated with them were repre-
sentatives of the nations which VIII
participate in the discussions OF the
Far Eastern and Pacific questions
Belgium, Netherlands and
Portugal.
In the background were the
many technical advisers who ac-
companied each group - severai
hundred in all-representing the
army and the navy as we'll as the
fiscal and economic aspects.
In world importance, the gather
ing ranks with the Peace Confer
ence of Versailles, the conferences
for disarmament at the Hague, and
going farther back the Congress OF
Vienna Which thought it was WORK
ing to preserve the peace OF Eu-
rope.
The work of the Washington
conference naturally divides into
two principal phases: the llnl1ta-
ZION of ornaments and the settle
ment of questions in the Far East
and the Pacific which statesmen
fear nay have in them the making
of war. Which will be consid-
cred first, the conference alone can
determine, but there seems to be
little disagreement over statement
that the two questions are lndls-
solubly linked, and that neither can
be disposed Of without relation to
the other.
In the viewpoint Of the Ameri-
can government. an agreement on
the, Pacific and Far Eastern cues
tions will point the way to a So
luton Of the armament question
because with probable causes for
war out Of the way the need OF
heavy arrnaments will disappear.
Japan, however, leans to the feel
ing that the armament question
should be first disposed Of, and
that some of the subjects contain
ed in the program of discussion of
Far Eastern and Pacific affairs
should not come before the con-
ference but rather should be dis
posed of in negotiations between
japan and the countries concern
ed. No one can forecast how that
part of the program will be worked
out. And upon how it is worked
out depends much Of what Will
come of the conference.
The American viewpoint, as 1t
had been expressed by those, with
authority to speak for the govern
ment, is that the United States en-
ters the conference asking absolute
ly nothing for itself and seeking
only to relieve a tax-burdened
world, now making great eco
nomic waste in fear Of war. The
American government, it should be
said, denies no nation its place in
the sum-" or its opportunity for ex-
pansion; neither does it have any
notion of asking any nation to dis
pense with the means by which 1t
assures its reasonable safety.
It seeks only, it may be said by
the same authority. to remove
troubles, which although now little
might in the future grow great
and by doing that makes heavy
preparations for war unnecessary
Having done that, if it can be ac-
complished. America hopes tc
point the way to a reduction OF
arnaments which will be fair and
just to all.
When the call for the conference
was issued, it was followed by a
wave of public feeling that com
plete disarmament was the object
Of the United States. This, how
ever, quickly was corrected, and il
was Secretary Hughes who pointed
out that the proper designation OF
the affair was "a conference on
the limitation of armaments,' with
emphasis being placed on the word
limitation. Almost Immediately af-
terward there ere evidences of a
considerable pressure of public
thought in direction of complete
disarmament on the ground that il
the United States were to point the
way the remainder of the world
would be forced by it's public opin-
ion to follow, and swords would be
beaten into ploughshares. ThC
United States, it may be said on
the highest authority, has nc
thought Of proposing complete
disarmament although there are in
dications that it will lead off with
proposals for reduction which may
be startling.
The first few days of the sessions
are bound to be taken up with Off
cial formalities and organiZatio,
work, including the appointment Of
committees and the divisions of the
conference into sections and sub
sections which will work on the va
rious questions and report to The
full conference for action. The lat'
arrival of Lloyd George, the British
premier. may cause some things tt
be DELAYED. although work OF
preparatory nature upon them car
proceed in his absence; and the
short stay OF Premier Brland o
France may cause some little dela!
in the necessity of his colleague: