The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-10

IN ARMS PARLE:Y
Politicus Says Hypocrisy Of Mo-
tivss Turns People Away
From Pseudo-A ltruism.
BY POIITICUs.
II the disclosures Of the secret ses.
sions of the arms conference have
demonstrated anything they have
proved that the delegates from Great
Britain and Japan have come to Wash.
ington, not to give up something, but
10 get something: not to make sacri.
Itces for peace, but to obtain guar
antee, signed by the United States,
of the possessions they have In
Chinese and Russian territories. Every
suggestion that real possessions---not
Tostoffices--be returned to the de-
spoiled Chinese and Russian peoples
has been rejected. NO wonder the
Administration shows signs OF fear
that Congress will not ratify the con.
ference results.
When President Harding issued the
first invitation for the arms confer
c8ce the announcement was greeted
by q wave Of enthusiastic approval
throughout the country. Ii was look
ed upon as long step toward the
ending Of the terrific war burdens OF
the world. The inclusion OF the Far
Eastern problems was taken a. q
proof that the United States would
use It's power to indslce the other
nations to give up their selfish plane
for a partitioning OF China, and of
Russia. and to obtain restoration OF
the integrity of those great empires.
The reception of the Harding pro-
I.osals, throughout Europe and Asia,
seemed just as warm as In the United
States and the various governments
addressed fastened to promise their
participation and their cooperation.
From time to time, however, the
spokesman of these governments took
occasion to put themselves on record
or certain important reservations
u gainst the aitruism of the Harding
scheme. These reservations were met
in the United States by warnings
against trusting too far to the ideal.
istic pretenses OF imperialistic govern
ments, especially the British Empire,
France and Japan.
Public Was "Lulled."
But these warnings were isolated.
Little attention was given by them,
either by the Government or by the
people. The public was lulled into q
cream of eternal peace, and the visions
OF carping critics were rejected an the
of pessimists who would
block the wheels Of the chariot OF
peace.
That was the situation when the
conference met. The warnings had
crown louder, but the burial Of the
Unknown Soldier at Arlington added
lis inspiration to the emotions OF the
American people, and the belief that
the rattle of the war drums were 81.
fenced forever re-echoed from the
tomb of the Hero. The welcoming ad-
dress Of President Harding and the
hughes proposals for a slashing cut
in naval ornaments seemed for the
moment to sweep aside warnings and
warmers alike.
The reaction set in quickly. Even
the pretense Of eager acceptance in
principle" by the visiting delegates
sounded hollow. 1t did not take long
Tor the sham to reveal itself and the
I eaction grew. The warnings came
from new quarters. Optimists were
converted to pessimists, i'm
til today the tone Of the American
press, the sentiment of the American
people, and, probably more important.
the attitude of the American Congress
has become tinged with such deep
slyepticism that there is grave appre.
hension in the White House and the
u.
ccptance of the conference results by
the American people.
From day to day the official and
unofficial announcements of the con-
ference have emphasized the funda-
mental hypocrisy OF the whole pro-
ceedings. The secret sessions OF the
conference delegates concerning China
Logan with a sanctimonious gesture
in the shape Of the Root resolutions
conferred on the pledge to respect the
integrity. independence and sover.
eighty of China. But when 1t came to
an attempt to write these idealistic
pledges into actual agreements, the
true nature OF the conference proceed
ings came to light. The delegates had
come to Washington, not to restore
China, but to obtain mutual guaran'
tees that the plumber they had taken
from that dismembered empire should
be left in the hands OF the nations
that had taken It. Instead of giving
up anything to promote the cause of
peace, the powers demonstrated that
they had come to have their Illicit pos
sessions confirmed by the conference.
II anybody was to make sacrifices in
the cause of peace, they agreed that
IL should be China.
That seems. TO be the British
notion of the way in which peace
can be maintained in the world. 1t
was the idea behind the treaty of
Versailles: Bind the nations Of the
world together to guarantee the
crooked boundaries and the posses.
sions Of conqueror nations. and there
will be no more wars. The Ameri-
can people know better. They re-
jected the treaty of Versailles be-
cause II sought to impose upon them
the guaranteeing of these crooked
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