Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-11
LetH Be aConference,
Not q Sh0W.
tFrom the Baltimore A:nerican)

|
The American is in receipt of re-
print of an editorial recently pub
lished in Editor and Publisher. cir
| culated among the American press in
the hope of uniting the press in a
! general demand that the doors of
the disarmament conference be
| thrown wide open. We quote:
Whether or not there shall be a
great press gathering in Washing
| ton and whether or not the pro-
posed disarmament conference
shall be open or closed rests en-
tirely with the editors of the news
papers Of the world, but more
especially American editors. Here
ia opportunity for the greatest
force in our national life, that
recognizes no master but public
service and public good, to render
service to the suffering of the
whole earth by demanding that
the first world conference to be
held on American soil be an ex-
preston Of the yearning of the
potent moral force Of the world.
We confess TO doubt as to whether
II this conference trust for its in
spiration to the soUl-yearning of the
potent moral force Of the world, this
conference will get anywhere. We
confess to certain feeling Of weari-
ness over the easy use Of such for
mulae as "Open covenants openly
arrived at" We do not concur in
the opening statement Of a circular
letter which accompanied the fe.
print, viz;
There is every indication that |
representatives Of the allied and
associated nations will gather in |
Washington within a few months
to discuss and reach some decision |
as to the future policy Of the
world on armaments. At the same
time vital problems of the Pacific
will be taken up.
This reads as if the conference
was of double purpose, and it is not.
Disarmament" Is as alluring a cry
as "Open covenants" But we have
the repeated assurance Of Secretary
Hughes. with implication more grave
every time he utters it, that there is
not the slightest hope of disarma-
ment until the political problem Of
the Pacific shall have been settled.
II its settlement is found impossible,
there is not now an indication that
the matter of disarmament can get
beyond the stage of academic dis
cussion and hot air.
why run away, moreover, from |
the truth as to what settlement of
the problem Of the Pacific really in
wolves? 1t so happens that the de-
feloping interests of the remaining
countries. and particularly of the
United States, run counter to what
the Japanese devoutly consider their
own imperative national necessity .
and their destiny. Settlement means
either the curbing of japanese ex-
panson into a backward country
whose exploitation by her would in
ordinary course be most logical. or
virtual authorization of her to assume
not only the economic but the
political guidance of northern China:
for Japan cannot, with due consid- {
GRAFTON for her own future, stake her
Industrial and economic life on the
permanence of resources not polit- {
lcally controlled by her.
The peace conference at Paris r
nxed. or tried to fix. the future of /
germany. Germany being absolutely | t
At the mercy Of the powers taking +
part in it. This is as grave a. mat I
er, with the subject of the confer I
ance a living, virile power, sitting G
n at the conference. We conceive r
nat mighty little headway could be v
ade at such gathering, with every /
ieHcate item Of discussion fed to the
press for what. despite the honest a
Intention of editors, must in the {"
Iery nature of the case be unin- Il
ormed, slap-dash analysis and inter q
'retation. r
We are perfectly ready to abide O
" more conservative Interpretation G
II that phrase, open covenants d
openly arrived at" The notorious "
secret treaty" is the treaty made in fl
he dark and kept in the dark: the C,
rivate understanding that suddenly d
ooms up, years after it had been O
cached. to confound a people that II
ever knew they were committed to h
l. 1t it be the intention Of Eng b.
md, France. Italy. the United States n
nd Japan, pairwise or in trios, to IL
uild that sort of foundation for the al
greements to be made at this con- m
erence, 1t matters little how wide pl
he doors of the conference itself be al
eld open; the wider. the more the
copies will be fooled by the ap- tn
aren't sincerity of nominal negotia- m
ons held after everything vital had W
cen cooked up in privacy, hs
If we wish success for the confer ta
nee, in all conscience let us leave tn
lose working for 1t to manage the 81
usiness. 1t is an altogether deli yC
ate business at best, endangering tn
ood feelings, inviting retirements ca
ON positions that cannot be aban pa
oned without some injury to ma bu
onal pride. Why should we want tn
rub 1t In, or give others the chance Sc
do so, is beyond conception.
hat a pretty conference it would
, If it degenerated into such a pub
: pickering as the assembly of the de
eague of Nations proved when IA
-er any matter involving interests fu
moment came up! st;