The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-04
HIGHEST CRAFTSMANSHIP
Supposed to be written by a special
Washington correspondent after the
disarmament conference had adjourned

(supposed to be written by a special
Washington correspondent after the
disarmament conference had adjourned.)
1t was the most remarkable gather
ing of the representative of the great
powers of the world in all history!
Nothing to compare with it can be
found in any of the so-calIed treaty or
peace meetings of the nations. It was
astounding in the nature of it's discus
sions, and the final result reached by
unanimous vote of all the delegates
will be cf the most tremendous impor-
lance to all mankind for all time to
come.
The sessions. as you have already
been advised, all began with an i'm
pressive moment of silent prayer. This
order was observed turnout the entire
sitting. It came as a frankly eX-
pressed desire of President Harding
himself, emphasized by Secretary
Hughes, asking the delegates, each in
his own tongue with silent appeal to
Almighty God, to ask for the Divine
wisdom to remain with the conference,
recognizing that unless that wisdom
and presence were with the discussion
it would degenerate into diplomatic
and selfish claims, each country trying
to gain some advantage over the 9TH
ers in the final arrangements.
Both Are Church Members.
1t is not surprising that such a re-
quest should come from the president
and the secretary. They are both OF
them members of the church and pro-
fessed disciples of Jesus Christ. That
means, or course, that they believe IN
His teaching and recognize the fact
that it is fundamental craftsmanship
of the highest order. By their own
acceptance of Christianity they accept
the rule of Jesus in His statement that
the first thing in all the world is love
to God and man. Obedience to that
rule will bring in worldwide peace
and complete disarmament, and an END
of all war.
The immediate effect of that i'm
pressive opening of silent prayer was
felt all thru the sessions of the con-
ference. AS the. representatives from
France. Italy, Japan, China, Great
Britain and the United States waited
together, with the understanding that
during that time, in the separate
tongue of each, a prayer should go
out to God for wisdom and help, the
silence was profound, and the DIVINE
presence was overpoweringly felt. AS
one of our best known visitors from
Great Britain, H. G. Wells, said, Fu-
ture historians will dwell over TINS
moment of silent prayer with Wonder
or with question, possibly. But not
the effect of that silent period was
the starting cause of most of the final
results. On that one point there can
not be any place for debate or differ
ence of opinion"
Summary of Conference.
Those final results are now a mat
ter of worldwide knowledge, but the
results are so remarkable and to most
of the peoples of the world so unex-
pected, that any rehearsal of them,
even now that the conference has adj
journed, IS apparently as full of gen
eral interest and eager reception as
on the day they were first announced.
A summary is not out of order to
make clear to all our readers just
what this great conference actually
accomplished.
France came to the conference fully
prepared to prove her need of large
military preparation to protect her
from future attack by her old enemy,
Germany.
Japan came in somewhat the same
spirit to hold strategical possession of
the Pacific, as she had already made
Guam of little value to the United
States, by acquiring the German Is
lands. Power in the Pacific was
Japan's first object at the conference.
Italy came with the thunder cloud
OF the nearby incipient republics OF
the old monarchies of Austria and Bo-
hemia lowering over her deliberations
to hinder any curtailment of arma-
ment worth anything
Great Britain thru her representa-
tive, the astute and mental calculating
delegate, came to the conference to
| state her need of military strength on
account of her critical position as a
sea power and grave conditions exist
ing in Ireland and India.
The United States came with an
avowed policy of retaining a navy and
army for which already an appropria-
ton had been voted by congress of
SS0,000,000. And by the frank and
open public declaration made by
President Harding himself several
weeks before the conference met.
The time, in my opinion, Will never