The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-30
Nations of Europe Will Be
Solvent After Money Now
Spent in War Preparations
Is Saved.
WILL RESTORE Credit
BY MARX SULLIVAN

try does not. Because the dlSarmd-
ment conference is less dramatically
staged, and because it comes after
ward. the world thinks of it as much
less important than the peace confer
ence. The fact is not apparent now,
but it will be before the end of the
year. that the disarmament conference
in Washington is to be fully as I'M
portant as the peace conference.
Some of those who are most earn
est in bringing about this conference
deplore the fact that it is to nave "a
wider scope than disarmament merely.
There is good ground for this view.
II is a theory which visualizes the
nations as saying to one another
I'VE have many problems ahead of Us
and many vexatious issues to settle.
Let US begin the process by binding
ourselves not to fight over any of
these issues. Let us leave our pistols
outside when we enter the conference
room"
What Really Happened
That was a good theory about the
coming conference. But if that the
orv had been adopted, it would have
followed that we must have not one,
but two conferences. We would have
disarmament, and then we would have
had to hold a second conference to
determine the other issues.
What really happened in the evolu-
ton of the negotiations leading to the
coming conference was the deter
mination to lump disarmament, and
the other issues, and settle them all
at once
in he d1 80
American leaders who have brought
about the coming conference is that
you cannot logically or securedly do
anything about armament unless you
at the same time consider the causes
of ornaments, and treat them ade-
quately That is how it came about
that the coming conference has been
designated to take up not merely
armament, but questions arising in
the Pacific.
Pacific Questions
For the present, the group Of ques-
tions to be discussed in addition to
armament is merely described as
those arising in the Pacific" But
there is nothing more obvious than
the pressure to take up still other
questions. 1t lies in the nature of the
case
If it is sound to say that questions
of armament can only be considered
in connection with those issues be-
cause of which nations take up arms
then il follows that the coming confer
ence should properly take up all
issues between nations
What is likely to happen is that
those who will dominate the coming
conference will make an honest effort
in the interests of simplicity, ard in
the effort TO get something t , ,ible
done, TO restrict the conference TO dis
armament, and to questions arising in
the Pacific.
But from now until the conference
begins. and after the conference is
under way, there will be a steady pres
sure of logic and circumstance on the
conference TO take up related ques-
tions.
May Consider Court.
Already the question has been
brought up as to whether the coming
conference should consider the forma-
tion of an international court. Moth
ing is more logical than this. The
purpose of an international court is
TO settle by law disputes which lack
ing such settlement, lead to war.
Those Washington leaders who are
responsible for the coming conference
show some wariness about admitting
new subjects, and are disposed TO limit
rather than to extend what is called
the "xagenda.' In this there is sound
sense and caution, but in the long
run it will happen that the coming
conference Will take up more ques-
tions than are now announced
Further than this, the coming con-
ference in Washington will be merely
beginning. 1t will be one of several
conferences which will take up sera-
tim all the questions of coming con-
Germ to nations, and which inevitably
at the end will lead TO a world asso-
citation for the preservation of peace,
and for the solution of other common
questions.
Will Bring Prosperity.
II is doubtful if the American people
realize the direct interest that the
conference will have for them. 1t will
have for us, OF course, the interest
that it mas for all nations who want to
avoid the horror of future war, and
escape the burden of present taxation.
But this particular interest is small
er to America than to any other
nation, because the burdens of war
rest Oi Us luOIe llSllIy lUdH on any Oh
the others. The coming conference
has an interest for America beyond
this superficial one. The thing to
which Washington and the country is
now giving most attention is business
depression.
This depression in all its ramifica-
tions, rests finally upon the inability of
the original producer of goods to find
a market for his wares.
1t rests primarily on the fact that the
American farmer is unable to sell his
goods The reason he cannot sell his
goods is that those European nations,
which in past years have bought them,
are not now able to buy them.
Market Cut OFF.
The trouble of the American farmer
lies in the fact that the foreign market
for his products has been cut off. 1t
has been cut off by the war-induced
Continued on PAGE Thirteen)