Evening star., 1921-11-13

NEW NoltN 1 lNlDN NHs
AIR. Hughes program for the
liniitation Of naval armament
leaves nothing to be desired in the
way of liberal accommodation and
drastic definiteness. 1t is uncondi-
tional and far-reaching. 1t will
lift the burdens of competition in
over-costly naval construction in
way that will make every British,
Japanese and American taxpayer
realize that it has been lifted.
The Secretary of State has been
criticized as a negotiator who Is
100, ready TO lay his cards on the
table. Yesterday he laid them on
the table with a, gesture of superb
confidence. The United States In
vited the other naval powers TO
come to Washington and consider
restriction of naval strength. IL
was incumbent on the administra-
ton to present plan. But few Of
those who were present at yester-
days gathering, recalling the retl-
cence and stalking methods or
other conferences. could nave
dreamed that q plan would be OF
fered carrying no reservations
whatever and striking ruthlessly
to the very heart of the problem
a ten-year naval building truce;
the abandonment OF all unfinished
capital ship construction: the
scrapping of older capital ships;
the limitation of submarine. aux
Hilary. airplane carrier and air
plane ,building-these absolutely
suspend naval expansion and Will
reduce by billions. of dollars the
cost of the British. American and
I.,r fnH
years.
Mr.. Hughes has boldly taken the
bull by the horns. He pledges the
United States to a larger reduc-
ton in ships and tonnage than he
asks of either Great Britain or
Japan. This is. Americas signal
contribution to the success of the
conference. Are Great Britain and
Japan inclined to make similar
contribution? Will they even be
MOVED to offer more?
= BALTIMORE Sun.
The sweep and comprehensive
neSs. of the proposal made sur
prfsed most Of those who heard it
Whatever the delegates thought of
II. to- the audience there assembled
1t was, and We believe it will be to
the American people. inspiring. =
There is proposed disarm ament
tlrak is disarmament If accepted
1t +" will cut millions of dollars
freIn the annual budgets of all the
nations involved. it will stop the
mad race for naval superiority.
1t will give the nations a9breath-
ing spell and by that very fact It
wAl make easier agreements upon
policy which will extend the naval
holiday from ten years to another
ten or twenty or make of it per-
manent institution.
ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT
We think it safe to say that the
American government has aston
ished the world. We are quite
sure, that it has astonished the
United States. and if we. who ex-
pected much, are greatly surprised
by the character and extent Of the
American proposals for limitation
Of armament. other countries that
doubtless have expected less must
be amazed. for it must now be
plainly evident to all that the
United States is acting with frank
determine ton in this matter.
1t is a fair proposal all around.
And it is intelligent and practica-
BILE. The others may find objec-
lions to some of it's features. but
1T will be difficult for them to
raise objection. even il they are
so disposed that can overcome
the tremendous initiative given
to 1.-The purposes of the conference
by the drastic cuts and the self
control which we propose as our
own share in the program. OBJ q
viously. however. the application
of this program is dependent upon
the settlement of far eastern prob
lens, but it offers a very strong
inducement to the people of Great
Britain and of Japan to encourage
the most earnest effort on the part
of their representatives to reach
an understanding on the matters
Of Asiatic Pacific policy that will
permit such a tremendous stride
toWard. the establishment of en-
during peace as these proposals
would achieve if accepted and ap-
piled. No one. even the greatest
Aoptinist. has dreamed of such all
auspicious beginning.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.
The Secretary of States figures :
have been compiled with evident
care aafd thoroughness. They rep
resent the best technical informa-
tiou. .AH1ilable to the Washington
government. They are based on
the idea that every nation sub
scEibing to the agreement which it
en@Srmust make substantial
sacrifice, The sacrifice. however,
will be more apparent than real.
ThosrR1ative naval strength Of the
p~eesis to remain practically as
No country will be more exposed
to inxasion or conquest by reason
preposed II 1t should be found that
. in certain details this plan hampers
it's intended object, namely the
maintenance of the present inter-
national balance. Changes are Of
course to be desired and the Secre-
tarPhimself would be among the
first to admit it. His scheme 10
merit consists largely in the fact
that it, offers a rational starting
pofnk for discussion. It Is definite.
1t ikSfounded on justice to every
inteHeSt involved and it embodies
to an extraordinary degree tho
peaceful aspirations Of the race.
The United States does not ask
from any other nation what It does
no(eAontempaate for itself. 1t pro-
poses to make a very material cut
in its~naval program and the Pc
culiar strength Of its position lies
in 1ffs ability to go on for an Ia
definite period and outbuild every
otherfnation If 1t so desired.
DENVER ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS.
Secretary Of State Hughes took
the armament bull by the horns as
the very first move on the very first
hour of the assembling of the arm
anspt, conference. ..
Ifwas not what was expected OF
him, q lawyer. q jurist, q cold, care
FUR .circumspect candidate for the
American White House hve years
ago, It was Rooseveitian. Mr..
Hughes placed the American cards
face up on he table without any
preifminaieG
The step was q daring ono and
could have Seen made only BY the
Yspresentativp. Of the United etates.
that in actual and potential ec0nogufo
strength, vlA in the last AnAbR82
= the s1snssa ee war. . - -
n '- IS- ~ - rer3.