The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-10
CONFERENCE
need NOT Be
LONG AT JOB
Civilian Delegates Have
Power to Settle Chief Points
Quickly Safe to Expect
Short Sessions.
ONE Big CONTINGENCY
by MARK SULLIVAN


respondent has only such knowledge
of the plans and attitude of mind of
the various delegation to the confer
ence as is obtained by the casual con-
facts. Based on such knowledge, it is
safe to expect with much confidence.
it. If the civilian conferees handle
full outcome of the conference within
a period much shorter than is COM
monty ascrbed to it.
If Mr.. Hughes, within five minutes
og the opening of the conference.
should say. IL move that all navies
be reduced and limited to be bare re-
nuirements of the national defense"
that motion would be followed by what
would probably turn out to be the only
ALLEGATION throughout the conference.
II would arise between Japan and
Great Britain, and the occasion of it
would be to determine which nation
should have the lead in seconding the
motion
1t would be entirely possible, if Mr..
Hughes and the other conference lead
crs should care 10 go al il that way,
10 have this motion adopted by unan-
the conference and announce it to the
world next Monday night. Thereafter,
there would still remain the business
Of defining what is for each of the
countries under their differing in
structions a navy adequate for nation
al defense.
Question Complex
This question is more complex than
the underlying declaration of princi-
pie How soon it can be settled de.
pends on how the conference treats
infinite technicalities. 1t read: "Di-
it themselves, they can arrive at a
ough-and-ready commOnsense defini-
ton in a very short time.
But if the conferees turn it over
TO a committee. of naval experts. then
heaven help us all, there will be weeks
of argument over finespun details. A
newspaper man amused himself the
other day by writing a parody of the
bewildering result of a conversation
with naval expert over what const!-
tutes a navy adequate for purposes OF
national defense.
The parody reflected the impression
made on a civilian by a naval mans
senate will ratify or whether the out
yide the number of American subma-
rines by the number of British dread
noughts, and subtract the number OF
Japanese cruisers. To this result ada
the cube root of the sum of the coast
lines of America, Japan and Grea;
Britain. Multiply by the maximum
distance between the coast of Amer
ica and the coast of Japan. Add the
average rate of exchange between
rounds and dollars. Divide by the
sum of the national wealth of Japan,
Great Britain and the United States.
and place decimal point four figures
from the right"
Go Round in Circles
The hopeless thing about the naval
expert definitions of navy adequate
for defense is not merely that they
are technical. Intelligence can COM
rrehend technicalities. But the real
trouble about the naval expert discus
sions is that they get nowhere. They
go round and round in circles. Each
thing is contingent on something else.
And there is neither starting point
nor stopping point But if the civil
ian conferees keep this subject with
in their own control their intention
and disposition are such that they can
arrive at satisfactory working
definition within a very short time.
The only other major question IS the
conference can be, but may not be
settled with equal expedition. If Mr.
Hughes should move the open door II
China. both Japan and Great Britain
as we'll as the other nations con
cerned. would second the motion and
vote unanimously for it without de
bate.
But at this point one or two of the
nations. and especially Great Britain
having in mind some events too re
cent TO need recalling, will ask the
United States some very pointed anC
some very just questions.
Would Ask Our Stand
They will want to know whether
the United States is willing to com
NIT itself to an alliance for keepinl
the door of China open and for man
aging through formal international co
operation those things in which Chin;
must be managed by somebody. I
Great Britain. in compliance with tht
principle of the open door. is 10 ceas'
managing the customs and the sal
tax. will the United States unite will
an international organization for tax
ing that work over? If Japan is Il
give us the responsibility for variou
tnlneSe rallrOauS, VIII tne Jnltet
States join in an international organ
ization to take that responsibility?
The American delegation will b,
asked not merely what they as a dele
cation are willing to agree to as
declaration of policy, but what thu
United States senate will agree Il
ratify and to carry out through SOM
form of actuality over period o
years. At this point the potentialitie
of the United States senate appear il
the conference room.
And with the unlimited ghost of tn,
American senators potentialities ar
pears the real obstacle not only t
progress but even to ultimate success
The American delegates must decid
and decide under embarrassing pres
sure, whether they are to restric
their commitments to the minimum
that they can safely anticipate tn
senate will ratify o whether the out
come of the conference must awai
the capacities OF the senate for Pre-
longed debate.