Evening star., 1921-04-20
Our Part in Disarmament.

Pronouncement by President Hard
ing of his policy concerning joint dis
armament by the nations of the world
was made on Monday TO delegation
of Washington women who called at
the White House to urge upon him
their views on the subject. Il know
that our government under this ad-
ministration wills take steps to bring
about world disarmament he said. L
do not think that this can be done
until state of peace exists. When
peace sdoes exist | can see no objec-
ton to the United States giving an
earnest of its desire to take the lead
in disarmament"
This assurance by the President as
to his purpose in the business Of rid
ding the peoples of the earth of the
burdens incident to the maintenance
of huge war machines, fills out the
one conspicuous void in his recent
message to Congress. In that mes
sage. either Intentionally or without
intent, he omitted any direct reference
TO disarmament and the omission gave
rise to grave misgivings in the hearts
of those to whom prompt steps to-
ward calling halt in the mad race
for armed supremacy seem impera-
tive. His expression of Monday goes
far toward the happy assurance that
the United States will in the near fu-
Of no isiy Or
Of its opportunities as a leader among
the nations.
Quite aside from the impelling force
of the popular desire to have done
with the creation of machines which
history has shown lead TO rather than
away from war-and the impulse Of
that desire was undoubtedly foremost
in the mind of the President-Mr
Harding, in the light of his campaign
pledges, could take no other position
than that which he has chosen. His
administration is pledged to give this
nation substantial decrease in the
cost of government No more promis-
ing means to that end presents itself
than that of an international agree
ment in restriction of expenditures in
preparation for war.
The full success of a conference of
the nations, called by the United
States to reach the needed agreements,
would be almost foregone conclusion
The peoples of the several nations find
themselves in practically the same
boat as the United States, with the
for their seat in that boat is to them
even more onerous than to u.s. As
long as the race in armament is con-
tinued, as long as their national secur-
fly is menaced by the existence and
expansion of potentially hostile armies
and navies, they propose to maintain
and expand their own instruments for
war. But as soon as the chance for
dropping the almost intolerable bur-
den presents itself, as soon as it is
shown that the race may be halted
and existing ornaments reduced with
out jeopardizing the respective secur-
ity of any individual nation, the
clamor for that course will be such
that no government could stand
against it.
The creation of that chance. the
demonstration of that truth, should
and will be held as very precious
function for the United States. AT
the threshold of our supreme destiny
in the world. no Ioftier opportunity
than this presents itself.
We are, by virtue of circumstance.
today possessed Of tremendous pow
er for good or evil in the world. The
consciousness of that strength. the
knowledge that upon our course to-
day and tomorrow depends the fate
of many peoples, must lead us to the
right road. We cannot dodge the re-
spOnsibilities incident to the power
which is ours. We, cannot fail a civil
ization which suddenly looks to lis
with eyes in which anxiety mingIes
with hope. Taking our place without
,NainglOry. meeting our obligations
without scIfishness-with Gods helm
We shall not fail.