The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-23

odSulHslOn, II. L.. NOV. ZZ.-1n2t
there are but two world powers,
and that the Washington confer
ence is really an effort to reach
an agreement between these two.
which will stabilize international
relations enough to permit the re-
duction of naval ornaments, is the
view held by many of the best in
formed observers.
The two powers, of course, are
the United States and Great Brit
ain. France and Italy are powers
in Europe, but in their present con-
dition neither of them can alone
exert a decisive influence upon
world affairs. Japan is the one
Asiatic power. but she is not a
power if she stands alone. Her i'm
portant part in the international
affairs of the last 20 years has
been made possible by her alliance
with England
The public is prone to regard the
conference-as an effort 10 make
war impossible by agreements for
the reduction of ornaments to the
point where the nations will not be
able to fight AS a matter of fact,
disarmament is a minor phase of
the conference. Military disarma-
ment probably will not even be
discussed. Naval ornaments will
at most be limited in such way as
to reduce the burdens of taxation
and perhaps pave the way for fur
Their reduction at some future time.
But such a reduction would not
10 },
more improbable than it now is.
There are in the world certain
forces of military and economic
Imperialism which make for war.
They are present in all of the
countries represented at the con-
ference except China. But in some
other countries they are more
clearly dominant than in others.
To curb these forces is the real
Object of the conference. or at least
its best hope Of taking a step to-
ward inSuring peace. The confer
ence will be another great exhibit
ton of diplomatic horse-trading.
like the meeting at Versailles, but
1t need not be as futile as that one
was. 1t cannot hope to make war
that it will precipitate
a war. But it is also among the
possibilities that it will be a set
back for imperialistic ambition in
several quarters. that it will check
naval building, and that it will es-
tabllsh an equilibrium in world af-
fairs that will make another world
war improbable for long time
During that time the Revision of
men against war. which has been |
slowly growing since the middle |
ages, will have a chance to grow |
stronger still. The growth of this |
feeling is the only thing that can !
ever really prevent war. Govern
nents inevitably make wars. but |
when the common man refuses to |
light them or pay for them. the |
Governments will be disarmed in
Iced
Japan's Policy.
One OF the countries in which |
he imperialistic or war-making !
ceiling is most clearly dominant is |
Japan. That fact is recognized and !
admitted upon all sides Japan has !
enforced her will in Manchuria and !
She has seized Shantung !
Ind imposed her 81 points upon /
nina These moves are clearly |
he beginning of a course of eco
lomic and military imperialism in
asia which would inevitably cause !
mother war sooner or later. Fur
hermore, this course on the part !
If Japan is iRimical to the United !
states. because this country is COM
nitted to a policy of maintaining /
he open door tequal economic OPP /
,Ortunity for all nations in China.
nd of insuTing Chinas national in
egrity and autonomy. This policy
s embodied in the Hay doctrine
I has been assented to by practic-
lily all of the other nations in
words. but it has been violated by
ii OF them in deeds, and especially
" Japan with the support of Great
Britain. The United States must
ither check this violation of her
traditional policy with regard to
'hina or else she must withdraw
from the Pacific. leaving 7
'hina to her fate
There are some pacifists who ap-