The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-11-17
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
FOR CONFERENCE on
DISARMAMENT
Secretary Of Commission on Onterna.
ti0nal Justice and Goodwill
OF Federal Council Of
Churches Writes.
BY DIR. SIDNEY l.. GULLIcK.

| 80 ''s<1tNahs
Washington, d. c. - The success o.
the conference Of the limitation o.
armament vitality depends on thu
adoption by the conference OF certain
fundamental principals.
First is the principal OF open agree
ments. The age when few diplomats
or statesmen comforting in private car
wisely make great and fateful deci.
sions for entire nations has passed
The peoples must know what the de.
cisions Of their statesmen are and the
reasons for those decisions. This prin-
ciple does not Of course prevent states
men and diplomats from meeting pri-
yately and considering together their
great and difficult tasks. They should
by all means establish those personal
relations that are so needful for full
mutual understanding But the prin-
ciple does preclude secret bargaining
and the making of personal agree
ments that are not made public, much
less the reasons for them.
Second is the principal of the open
door This means equality of oppor-
tunity granted to all by all for trade
and for every kind Of economic enter
prise. 1t forbids special discrimina-
tory privileges for special nationali-
ties, established by military force, by
intrigue or by diplomacy. This prin-
cipal is not Of course to be confused
with free trade nor with freedom for
mass immigration. These are domestic
questions which each country must
regulate according to its own needs,
problems and judgments.
Third is the principal Of equality of
race treatment. This means that
every civilized nation grants to all
aliens who come under Its jurisdic-
ton, equality Of legal status and treat
ment without regard to race, color or
creed. This does not carry with 1t the
necessary granting Of privileges OF
to all without record to
personal qualifications. Each nation
must decide for itself the standards of
qualification which aliens must have
to receive the privileges Of citizen
ship; but whatever those standards
may be, they are to be applied to all
aliens without regard to race. Equal
lty of race treatment has nothing
whatever to do with the question of
the restriction of immigration or OF
he intermarriage of races.
Fourth is the principle of pacific
settlement of every international dis
,ute. This means that the nations vol
agree to submit for settle
nent by the International courts of
ustice or by general arbitration or
.onciliation boards every difficulty
which they cannot solve by their own
diplomatic agents.
Fifth is the principal of mutual re-
Iuction of ornaments. This means
hat the nations have the twill to
eace," honestly plan to settle their
isputes by law, reason and goodwill
nd positively reject all purposes to
Sc force to invade, injure or intimid-
to their neighbors.
In the Washington Conference 1t
ill doubtless be found that whole
ONE discussion and agreement on
ar Eastern problems and policies
ill be more easily secured after eff
,ctive agreement have been made to
isarm rather than before.
Aboce all things else, this confer
nee calls-let us dare say it--for
ision, for moral and spiritual ideal
IN. 1t needs to be led by what Chris
ans call the Spirit of God, to have
hat the followers Of Jesus term the
ind Of Christ. Whatever be the form
faith of its members, it calls for
,iritual devotion to those ideals of
which all nations at their
,st share with each other.