The Washington herald., 1921-09-27
A Comparison.

ii 10 rather interesting 10 compare the purposes
i of the Washington conference with those pro-
vided by the league of nations. 1t might be worth
while, if proponents of the league would ruminate
on what would have been. or might have been the
present situation Of the league, If had been based
upon the principles underlying the 'agenda of the
conference. 1t would be of some value to consider
what would have been the attitude of Senate
under such conditions and the radical difference of
any opposition to league so purposed.
The broad difference between the agenda and
the covenant is that the former is basically eco
nomic and not political military. 1t is an effort
to lift the consideration of Far Eastern problems
out of the field of diplomacy to the realm where
business and politics controls international ae-
ton and relations. The purpose is to do away with
military force and political preference and put in
their place the economic policy of freedom Of COM
merce and investment with we'll assured, but rea-
sonable, profits, making them correspond to their
kind in domestic undertakings in all nations.
- China should have the admitted and permitted
right to develop her own government in accordance
with the prevailing ideals, customs, traditions and
if you please, religion of her people 1t should be
the product of Chinese life and history Change in
China is slow process not to be unduy urged, or
forced. She has a right to exploit her own re-
and reap the benefits of their exploitation
for herself and her people In this she shows an
entire willingness to share with foreign capital and
to accept foreign expert, trained experience and
methods. This is cooperation which is all foreign
caaptal has right to ask. 1t is expert direction,
which she will accept
1t does not mean, however, that foreign capital
should go in by bribery, by debauchery, by politi-
cal control and absorb the resources of China, by
sharing with her only by the of her cheap,
coolie labor be kept in their present condition
1t helpfulness, not charity nor exploitation
for the sole benefit of the explotes, nor economic
absorption. 1t sharing, not appropriatng,
and the development of Chinese productive ability
until her trade in itself, would repay the world and
add to it a naturally peaceful, independent nation
with enormous buying power.
If the covenant had provided only for the or
ganizaton of the league with international court,
this would have been enough. The body
ganized, could have been left to develop its own
constitution along lines of economic hepfulness and
the independent development of nations, after the
manner proposed as to the Far East. This is
a far stronger bond than force and more surely
promotive of peace than ornaments. 1t may be
observed that in the world it was economic ties
which formed the opposing alliances. II was eco
nomic Obligations and advantages and not weight
of guns or armies, which decided in each instance,
the cleavage for or against Germany.
With a world bound by economic ties invest
ment commerce. swap of commodities, interviewer
markets and the communication, personal touch and
interfamliarity in intercourse which come from
these there would be good reason to expect peace.
This brings the armament of fair dealing and mutual
interest, of good understanding and exchange Of
ideas along with commodities. Give all of this with
regular meetings in international organization
for discussion the adoption of rules OF trade, COM
muncation and intercourse with court to hear and
decide disputes and disarmament might not be an
idle dream.