The Washington times., 1921-11-20
G. Bernard Shaw ScOffs
At Disarmament Farce;
Lady Astor Is Hopeful
BY Lady Astor.

/ wish / could convey to those
who read this article the tremen-
dous impression made in this
country (England) by Mr.. Hughes
speech on November IL.
We must 60 back to 1914 to find
any parallel to the wholehearted,
spontaneous, and unanimous re-
sponse that his statesmanlike pro-
posals have called forth.
They have been recognized at
once as practical and practicable,
and they give the surest possible
proof Of Americas absolute sin
cerity Of purpose.
Only Discordant Note.
Every shade OF political opinion
has Joined in the welcome. The
only discordant note that have
heard has come from the extremists
Of the left. who were determined
that no capitalist conference shall
have any credit for peace making
and who have attempted to be-
little Mr.. Hughes proposals.
It IL all very well to say the
only way to dissrm is to- disarm..
But to sweep away with one
stroke the whole defensive forces
OF the world at a TINA when law.
laasnsss and unrest are rife b not
practical politics. a. everybody
knows. We cannot land ourselves
in Utopia by such methods.
Americas generous pronounce
ment about the reduction Of her
own navy did not cause any sur
prise to me. personally, for I have
always known that the American
people would no more build q
fighting machine for aggressive
purposes than England would
keep up q large conscript army.
Friendship Toward U. 8.
And 1 hope America is feeling
as little surprise over England's
acceptance Of the challenge. For
England showed years ago that
she did not want to build a navy
against America. She only laid
down her four hoods because every
one else was doing the sems.
/ have lately had special oppor-
tunities Of feeling the pulse Of
England In the matter of the
Washington conference. On Armi-
stice night I spoke at a mass
meeting Of women in London.
where delegates from eighty seven
large national organizations were
present, who sent message of
greeting to the women of the
United States, expressing their de-
termination to fight against war.
l should like to assure the wom-
en- Of America that the desire for
q policy Of international good will
and international fair play is every
bit AZ strong in England as 1t Is In
America, even though 1t may ex,
press itself less outspokenly.
Women Too Close to War.
The. English are not as reserved
as they like to pretend. Bat they
do not easily give expression to their
deepest feelings. English women
have been too close 20 war ever TO
want It again. Thousands Of Eng
lish mothers lost two, three. or even
four sons in the great war. and they
have no more sons to give.
believe that mutual sympathy
and cooperation between American
and English women will itself be %
strong a force for peace that the
issue of the Washington conferences
will be greater than we have dared
to hope.
have also Just been addressing a
big meeting of westrian mission
workers and sympathizers In Man
chester. men and women associated
with a large institutional mission
that tries to save those who need
help physically as well as spiritu'
ally. It was borne In me there how
wrong we are to doubt that good
will must prevail.
Faith Sometimes Weak.
In America and England there
are thousands Of sincere Christian
men and women who are trying to
show forth the love Of God. Need we
be surprised II the fruits of tho
spirit are made manifest in th'
worldf The AnSio-aanon peoples