Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-22
LIMITATION or ARMAMENT.

g The results thus far of the efforts of the League
of Nations in the direction Of limitation of armament
] have brought forth some criticism which seems
y scarcely to have been warranted. In accordance
with the provisions of the covenant the League some
months ago set on foot inquiries as to the attitude
4 OF its members on the armament question. Each
member nation was asked specifically if it would
agree to limit its military and naval budget for 1890
to the sums provided for this year. Seven states
j answered in the negative. O. the others from which
: replies have thus far been received, nearly all quail
ify their affirmative answers. They are willing to
center into such an agreement under certain specified
I conditions, the conditions, of course, varying with
II the nation.
The results Of the Leagues labors are therefore
held by many writer's to be negative, and the CON
Inclusion is drawn that for the League to continue its
= effort, with the general attitude what it is, will be a
niwaste Of time.
4 Inasmuch as the. nations have been arming
3 themselves for many thousands Of years, it requires
t4a peculiar reading Of history and a strange UNDER
OF human nature to expect that. they will
reach a general agreement on armament reduction
lwithin@a few months. As a matter Of fact, some
VERY substantial progress appears to have been
made.
In the first place, while there is no prospect Of
the unqualified acceptance Of the specific agreement
suggested, every nation responding has declared it
1self without qualification to be in favor of the princi-
sple Of armament reduction. It\may be said that it
lis easy to declare in favor Of a principle and to balk
lat steps whereby that principle is to be put into
j%practice. That is true. But the question of arma-
srnent reduction is more just now than an academic
lone. It is a very live issue, and it is so regarded all
lover the world. The nations want peace, and they
lknow that competition in ornaments makes for
war. They are weary of the burden. Of taxation en-
Hailed by maintaining constant preparation for a
possible wal. They understand that smaller arma-
Inents are imperative, and the governments which
have accepted the principle at this time have. COM
Ernitted themselves Incorporation in the working
out of practical plans.
Again, there has been developed the fact that
no nation which has need for an armed force at all
can afford to reduce that force materially unless it's
neighbors do likewise. The nations must act in
concert, hence. before there can be general action
there must be a general program, accepted by all or
practically all Of the nations concerned.
there has also been brought out important
facts relating tosthe armament Of particular nations.
In one case this years budget, for local reasons, is
smaller than the normal, and cannot be used as a
ebasls for next year. Some Of the nations exist I'M
der conditions OF extraordinary hazard. Rumania,
fssfor instance, adjoins Bolshevist Russia, and from
What quarter almost anything may be expected. Ru-
Esn1anla, therefore, must be prepared for whatever
may happen. Local conditions, some of them tenn
sporary, affect the situation in several countries, so
that a blanket engagement at this time is not con
ssidered feasible.
Progress has been made in bringing these and
SSlmilar facts to the front. In the light of these facts
1T Will be possible to proceed in a constructive way.
In the meantime the conference at Washington is
near at hand. Between that conference and the eff
sHorts OF the League there should be no conflict. The
Rbject OF the conference is to bring about concerted
action by several of the great powers which happen
to be peculiarly situated. Because the scope 81 the
EEonference is narrower it should be productive of
Mearlier results, but whatever efforts are put forth by
Either body are entitled to appreciation and support.
III &@S# HvYrNrNrYc p - =