New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-21

- nomlcaliy independent?
4 Shall the United States be
chemically defended?
Shall the United States DO what it
can TO utilize its scientific knowledge
for the benefit of the human race?
In view of the disarmament con-
ference presently to be held in Wash
ington, these questions at this time
are especially momentous. I put them
to the one man in America best quail
fed to answer them, Charles H. Herty,
who is world famous as chemical ex-
pert, is member of the chemistry d.
vision of the National Research Coun-
Gil and is chairman of the American
Chemical Society's committee advisory
to the United States Chemical War
fare Service, and is the editor of In
dustrial and Engineering Chemistry,
published by the American Chemical
Society, and is otherwise distinguished.
His statement at this particular time
will be read with n peculiar interest
because, among other things, they
show that President Harding's disarln-
ament conference, at which the ma
tons of the world will be represented,
must consider many things besides
army, navy and Red Cross. 1t perforce
must consider chemical industry in al
most all its manifold phases, if it real
ly Is to accomplish anything worth
while in the direction of disarmament.
"The disarmament conference" said
DR.. Herty, "if it follows the conven-
tional lines of thought, providing
against and for such matters as pre-
viously have been considered by think
ers along the lines involved, will be of
epoch making Importance.
"The public must be interested in it;
especially the public should remember
that all the armies and navies in the
world might be disbanded and still
leave all the nations of the world
fully equipped for warfare unprece-
IDENTIFY destructive of human life.
Times have changed since the peace
conference at the Hague.
"In view of rapid progress in lines Of
chemical research I do not hesitate to
say that soon they will have changed
from the days of the peace conference
at Paris.
Real Object of Conference
Has Not Been Set Definitely
what will be determined on as we
chief object of the conference? Will
1T be to save the nations from the
great burdens of taxation for military
purposes? Or will it be to bring about
actual disarmament for the insurance
Of peace? l have watched all utter
ances and have seen nothing from Off
cial sources at Washington or else
where which bears upon this vital de-
tail: A conference for the first purpose
would be practically farcical. A confer
cnce for the second purpose would call
especially for chemical disarmament. 1t
would be epoch-making and would de-
velop lines of argument and revelations
which would amaze the layman.
chemical disarmament would be ac-
tual disarmament. Anything else which
did not include it, no matter with what
great solemnity it might be promul-
gated, would be wholly idle.
chemical armament is by far the
most important armament, to-day, both
for offense and for defense. Eliminate
chemistry from to-day's warfare, and
little would be left.
Modern war, unlike that Of old, COM
mandeers all industry. Modern indus
try is dependent upon chemistry. Chem
istry in warfare means not only gas
and high explosives, but vital details
of communications, Investigations look
ing to the improvement and produc-
ton of metals, and, indeed, is Of para
mount Importance in every step of
war making, as it is to-day Of para
mount Importance in every detail cs
civilized mans peaceful life.
'1f the conference is to talk Of
chemical disarmament, the irst chap
ters OF the talk must needs be of
chemical armament And here arises
an extraordinary point. The nation