Arizona republican., 1921-01-19
Limitation for Armament

Limitation for Armament
 The house of the legislature yesterday adopted a memorial to the president and the congress urging understanding with the principal nations of the world for reduction of armaments This action is in consonance with growing sentiment throughout the nation in favor of making this outward sign of fendliness and of removing the suspicion which the nations naturally entertain of another when they making feverish preparations for war.
 Until after the great those who did be- leve that at an end deplored the blindness of those who opposed preparedness by this coun- try. But we have come upon different times. There is none of the great nations which desires engage in and the United States is the only one which could afford a war. The same sentiment that moved the house the adoption of the memorial is already finding expression in the legis- lature.
 On Monday congress voted to limit the land forces of the United States 175,OOO. Whether that vas wise thing to do there will be a difference of qpnion. But at present it a safe thing. The ~orld war left the country in such shape that in An unexpected emergency we could quickly assemble a'larger army if needed.
 There seems to be a determined effort to bring about international agreement for the reduction of armaments Whether the land forces of such countries France and Poland can be reduced so long Germany continues resist the terms of the Versailles treaty and Bolshevk Russia threatens peghbors very uncertain but the three great naval powers at least discuss the problem of reducing 1her building programs and if their leaders show thigh statesmanship great good ought to result.
 Tho issue, however. is simple one The United States today better situated than either of It's maritime rivals build superior fleet. On this point Britain Japan will be seeking favors of us and not of them. Great Britain is desper- ately to reduce expenditures in order to pay off her debt and have something left for tic Improvements. Japan is still poor country and the expense of s30000o00 battleships is something grievous. It is true that harassed by sive taxation and kindred ills but they slight compared with the troubles of contemporaries. If we must build great navy can do so.
 Offsetting this is q whole complex of non-military ptoblems outstanding between America and Great Britain and America and Japan and these problems be settled honestly before we can face our fu- with either country with perfect comfort
 With Japan these problems range from the Cali fornia labor question down the title of the island of Yapand then very direct national interest that Japan shall not divert the money saved from possi- ble naval program to push schemes for land aggres- sion against China. designs in Siberia. creating
 Tar Eastern question likely to threaten peace of the entire world.
 With Great Britain if is absolutely i'm possible lack of cordality which will destroy hope of international cooperation by the great English speaking people is by no so impossible
 Americans feel today that they are not being treated quite squarey in the matter of the Mesopo- tamian oil lands of which Great Britain would not have had the disposal if ad assisted in the winning of the war Mir. Harding disposed to reopen the question Panama tolls which 1t pretty clear 1913 became involved with the possibility that Great Britain might give economic aid to Japan in case rejected the British structon of the canal treaty We also believe that the British have been discriminating against our merchant marine and altogether there many things that win need adjustment relations with both of our maritime rivals.
 But there is nothing in all this incapable of friendly adjustment when approach it in the right way with our hands open in front of and not ap- parenty reaching for concealed weapon.
 There are two things which will help the world keep out of war. One is to reduce armaments. Ths other is to adjust the specific quarrels which give rise to even the thought that such armaments may prove needful Our relations with France most friendly as great French statesman only last Monday pointed out for whatever the size of the French army no point do the two great republics have serious clash of interests.