Evening star., 1921-11-05
SUCCESS FOR ARMS
PARLEY PREDICTED
Public, However, Cannot Ex'
pect That Everything Will
Be Accomplished.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright. 1921. by The Evening Star-' =
lin this the sixth and last of a series Of pre-
liminary articles the armament conference
MI Lawrence outlines the crux of the whole
situation and predicts the success OF the coll
ference,
After all the formalities and cere-
monies are out of the way and the
armament conference gets down to
ernment, II it desires to assume the
leadership, must answer for itself
these questions: =
What shall be the purpose of the
United States Navy in the future:
Shall it be large eno1sh simply to re-
lieVe distressed Americans in various
parts of Central and South America?
If so, then a few ships are sufficient.
Shalt the Navy be big enough to
defend the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
from any enemy whatsoever? Then 1t
must be as large as the greatest
navy. namely the British.
Shall the American Navy be as large
as that of any power except Great
Britain? Shall it always be greater
than that of Japan? The answer is the
maintenance then of a navy as big
as our present establishment, and the
continuance Of the present cost.
Must Decide Foreign Policy.
In other words, what is the foreign
policy Of Ameria to be, aggressive or
tional'
Obviously it would be cheaper if
America and Great Britain could agree
20 act together in the future as they
did in the European war. The COM
hined strength of the two navies
would be able to overcome po-
tential foe. But an alliance with one
nation is considered dangerous-it
leads only to the growth of other al
liances to Off set the first. So n general
combination of all naval powers
pouEd together to preserve the peace
would be tie cheapest proposition
that could be made-an assoc alton
Of nations. Woodrow Wilson thought
reduction Of armament expense would
follow universal adoption of the
league of nations. His formula has
been rejected for the time being by the
another formula, less rigid than Mr..
wilson's, but having for its object
international cooperation as express
ed IN the republican national plat
form of 1920-namely, agreement
among nations to reduce armament
end preserve peace.
If America decides that each nation
ought to be permitted to fulfill its as
prations along national lines, then the
demand of the American Navy Will be
for a position the equal of any other,
or nearly so. If America decides to
pOOl HGT Ill Win lHe Others, our
naval experts will be compelled to
propose radical reductions on every
side. OF course, nothing would be
done till all nations would agree. The
good faith of each power would be
pledged to the observance of the new
treaty or convention. A violation of
the treaty would be a matter for COM
mon concern and consultation. Mr.
Wilson's league was interpreted as
involving physical force ut once to
punish such a violation. Mr.. Hard
ing's idea is to let moral force and
the play of world opinion back the
offending nation into corner and
compel obedience. Subsequently, it
might become necessary for the pow
ers to take steps to squelch a militia
ristically inclined nation.
If there's an agreement on far east
ern questions and all the nations, in
cluding Japan, sign it, the various
navies will be morally bound to see
that Japan keeps faith. 1t isn't nee
sary to prescribe penalties in advance
The European nations have given evil
dence of what they will do if treaties
are made scraps of paper" America
prefers freedom of action-the right
to determine the nature of the viola
ton and what it shall do at the mo-
ment. That's where President Hard
ing differs from Woodrow Wilson, but,
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