Evening star., 1921-07-20
Editorial Digest
Facing PeaceWard.

| newspapers Of the country give their
unalloyed support to Mr.. Harding's
call for a disarmament conference.
Some feel that it is a step toward an
| association Of nations, and some call
1t a new peace conference. Even those
who object to the width Of its scope
| as compared to Senator Borah's orig
| inal proposition for more limited
| gathering feel that it Is step in the
direction that all the peoples Of the
| world are pointing.
Brief press opinions follow:
President Harding in making his
tion of armaments and a settlement in
the far east has redeemed his pledge
of America first in a nobler sense
| than events Immediately after his
election seemed to promise.-New
York Post independently.
Provided all the nations taking part
are sincere and earnest. the armament
limitation conference called by Presi-
dent Harding should accomplish a
great deal;-Wheelins 1ntelligencer
1t is the first move in what he may
hold to be something better" than
the league proposition. yet it may lead
operation under the modified terms Of
the league covenant that are now
being worked out by the supreme
council.-Newark News independently
President Harding. in proposing to
the major nations of the world that
armament be limited, Is asking for
genuine peace, humane peace. SEN
sible peace. the kind of peace we like
to think we are intelligent and civil
lied enough to enjoy.-New London
(Conn.) Day republican).
He has proved that those-and there
were republicans as we'll as demo-
sF sFats sFst,ass!, among themmwho said that his
merely bluff did his administration
an injustice-Charleston News and
Courier (democratic).
What the conference may lead to is
as unguessable as the milky way, but
the decision to call it is momento Gus.
for in calling it the President is call
ing the bluff Of the world.-Baltimore
American (republicam.
The road along which the confer
ence is destined to travel looks as
though it led unswervingly In the di-
rection of the association of nations
WHICH MT. f1dTulnR mas OeSCTlDeQ.-
Boston Globe independently.
The Harding note marks the opening
Of new era in the peace and amity
of nations. 1t points the way for
America to resume her moral leader
the ideals that have always been the
distinguishing feature Of America s
traditional foreign policy from the
birth Of the nation.-Boston Tran
script independent republican,.
America enters the new conference
with greater influence than ever. its
purposes fully understood and its po-
sition respected. May the hopes thus
raised be realized.-Pittsburg Dis
patch independently.
The limiting Of armament is one
step nearer world peace, and the bring
ing OF the nations together may lead
to the forming of an association such
as that uggested.-Burlingto (Vt)
News independent republican,.
1t may be considered the first move
toward fulfillment of the Presidents s
pledge to work for an association of
possible league now feebly existing
Detroit Free Press independently.
In his efforts toward disarmament
hearty good wishes of his political
opponents.-Fort Wayne Journal-Ga-
zette (democratic).
If the representatives OF the United
States and Of the other powers meet
Eprepared to shoulder just burdens, to
face conditions as they are. and to CO.
operate toward an equitable and in
telligent disarmament and a arighteous
settlement of world affairs. the con-
highly desirable march of events
Oregon Journal portland, independently.
The call for q conference on dis
armament. from whatever source it
may come. Is likely to prove call for
association of nations. with something
like the existing allied council as the
keystone.-Springfel (Mass.) Union
Crepublican).
Indeed. it is highly probable that
the State Departments announcement
heralds the formation Of Mr.. Hard
ing's association of nations.-Norfolk
Ledger-Dispatch Independent demo-
cratic).
On the whole the Harding program
appears to be businesslike and states
manlike.-Cleveland Plain Dealer Gn-
dependent democratic).
Leadership in that most worthy
movement is placed in the hands Of
America by the action of President
Harding.-Albany Times-Union Gnde-
pendent).
The question is by no means SO COM
plicated as some statesmen would
make it appear. II two or three ma
tions can agree upon treaties for their
common welfare they can agree upon
treaties for anything. Nations can
agree not to make war as easily as
they contract with each other to
fight for each other. = Pittsburgh
Leader progressive republican,.
1t would be impossible to exag-
gerate the significance of the Presi-
dents action. He has assumed lead
ership in movement to restore
world peace upon a permanent basis.
Regardless of all that has gone be-
fore, he has finally paved the way for
International concord. Brooklyn
Eagle independent democratic).
That such a policy may be success
fully consummated none should doubt
It's failure might be a world calam-
ity: it's possibilities for the good Of
humanity are so vast that it would
Journal Independently.
We have set foot upon the road that
will lead us to the era. when the
worlds battle hags may be furled.-
Philadelphia Public Ledger (inde-
pendenD.
Nothing Of an importance compare
Bile to this news has developed dur
ing 1921, with the possible exception
of Germany's final acceptance of the
allies ultimatum on the indemnity
Richmond (Va.) News-Leader Gnde-
pendent democratic).
IT begins to look as If the coming