Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-11
ARMS FARLEY
NEEDN'T Be LONG
COMING TO POINT
Civilia n Delegates
Have Power to Settle
Chief Points Quickly
But Heaven Help All if Decision
Is Left to Experts, Say Poll
ticians
BY Mark Sullivan.

(National Political Correspondent Of
the New York Evening Post)
Washington, November 10.-Your
has only such knowl-
edge of the plans and attitude of mind
of the various delegations to the con-
ference as is obtained by casual con-
facts. Based on such knowledge, it
is safe to expect with much conf
dence, subject to one contingency, a
successful outcome Of the conference
within a period much shorter than is
commonly ascrbed to it.
If Mr.. Hughes, within five minutes
of the opening of the conference.
should say. Il move that all navies be
reduced and limited to the bare re-
uuirements of national Defence" that
motion would be followed by what
would probably turn out to be the
only alteration throughout the con-
ference. 1t would arise between
casion of it would be to determine
which nation should have the lead in
seconding the motion.
It would be entirely possible, il Mr..
Hughes and the other conference
leaders should care to go at it that
way. to have this motion adopted by
a unanimous vote within the first
hour of the conference and announce
it to the world next Monday night.
Thereafter, there would still remain
the business of defining what is for
each Of the countries under their
differing circumstances a navy ade-
quate for national defence.
This question is more complex than
the underlying declaration of princi-
pie How soon it can be settled de-
ponds on how the conference treats it.
If the civilian conferees handle it
themselves. they can arrive at a
rough-and- ready common sense def
milton in a very short time. But II
the conferees turn it over to a com
mittee Of naval experts then. heaven
help us all. There will be weeks oil
argument over fine spun details.
A newspaper man amused himself
the other day by writing parody OF
the bewildering result of a converse
ton with naval expert over what
constitutes a navy adequate for pur-
poses of national defence. The parody
reflected the impression made on 2
civilian by naval mans infinite
technicalities. 1t read:
Divide the number Of American
submarines by the number of British
dreadnaughts. and subtract the mum
Der Of Japanese cruisers. To this re-
suit add the cube root Of the sun
of the coast-lines Of America. Japan
and Great Britain. Multiply by the
maximum distance between the coas
of America aid the coast Of Japan
Add the average rate OF exchange be
tween pounds and dollars; divide by
the sum Of the national wealth O
Japan. Great Britain and the United
States. and place the decimal poin
four figures from the right"
The Experts Talk in Circles
The hopeless thing about the nava
expert definitions of a navy adequate
for defence is not merely that they
are technical. Intelligence can com
prehend technicalities. But the rea
trouble about the naval expert discus
sions is that they get nowhere. The,
go round and round in circles. Eacl
thing is contingent on something else
and there is neither starting poin
! nor stopping point. But if the civilian
conferees keep this subject within
their own control, their intention AM
disposition are such that they can ar
rive at a satisfa Glory working defini
| ton within a very short time.
! The only other major question Il
the conference can be, but may no
be. settled with equal expedition. ]
Mr.. Hughes should move the opel
door in China. Doth Japan and Grea
Britain. as we'll as the other nation
concerned, would second the motto
and vote unanimously for it withou
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