The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-13

cation that his majesty the EN-
peror of Russia proposed the con-
ference, which was ito occupy it.
self with this grave problem" and
which met at The Hague in the
year 1899. Important as were the
deliberations and conclusions of
that conference especially with
respect to the pacific settlementof
international disputes, its result
in the specific matter of limitation
OF armament went no further
than the adoption of a final reso-
luton setting forth the opinion
that the restriction of military
charges, which are at present a
. heavy burden on the world, Is ex-
tremely desirable for the increase
of the material and moral welfare
of mankind" and the utterance of
the wish that the governments
may examine the possibility of
an agreement as to the limitation
Of armed forces by land and sea,
and of war budgets"
1t was seven years later that
the Secretary of State OF the
United States. Mr.. EIihu Root, in
answering a note of the Russian
Ambassador suggesting in outline
program Of the second peace
conference, said: The govern.
ment of the United States, there
fore, feels II to be its duty to re-
se>ve for itself the liberty to
propose to the second peace con-
ference, as one of the subjects for
consideration, the reduction or
limitation of ornaments, in the
hope that, If nothing further can
be accomplished. some slight ad-
vance may be made toward the
resiiZation of the lofty conception
winch actuated the Emperor of
Russia In calling the first confer
ence. 1t is significant that the
imperial German government ex-
pressed itself as absolutely op-
posed to. the question Of disarm-
ament' and that the Emperor Of
Germany threatened to decline to
send delegates If the subject ~
disarmament was to be discussed
IN view, however. of the resoh-
ton which had been adopted ar
the first Hague conference the
delegates of the United States
were instructed that the subject
OF limitation Of armament "shouId
De regarded as unfinished bus
mess, and that the secGAd c1n.
ference should ascertain and 81 q
'ull consideration to the resnIts
VI such examination as the gov.
TInlehts nave given to the possi-
NY or an agreement pursIanr
70 the wish expressed by the FIRST
corI erence. But by reason -
tne obstacles which the suhiec,
encountered, the second
peace conference at The Hague
aIthoush 1t made notable progress
IN provision for the pea,,cf,I 80
tiement of controversies. was I'm
able to deal with umitatio.
armament except bv resoII',ion
..rr the following general terms.
Ii IohL erence confirms the res
- In ADOPTED by the conference
IoS? In regard to the IimitatIon
- iHliitary expenditure; and ina.
iun as military expenditure has
coHsIoeraoly increased in aImost
very country since that time ~
oonLerence declares that IL 10
eihently desirable that the GOV
eInLhents should resume tbe e.,
0uS eNamlna ton of this ouastior ;,
TO-. was the fruition of III. or
q Vi eight years. AItbougb ~
was clearly perceived ~
IN PREPARATION of armsn,o
E unaffected by these rm,iI1
t!sSestlons, went on unti1 II q.
HsLy eliminated in the grao..
var or history; and we ar 80"
- from the unparaIleI.d
OF llfe, the destruction -
h'Pes. the economic dis1ooatia
anu the Widespread impoverisb
men. neht which measure tbe cost u.
@ victory over the brutal NJ
OF military force.
Opportunity Is Here.
But if We are warned nv the
fquacy of earlier endeavors
limitation Of armament. We
can not fail to recognize the cr
s.+orGlnary opportunity now pre-
ted' We not only have the
sons OF the past to guide ms
NOT only do We have the reaction
rom the disillusioninC experi-
"ces OF war but We must maer
I've challenge of imperative.
economic demands. What was
II or highly desirable
peIore is now a matter of vital
necessity. II there is to be eco
homie rehabilitation. il the long
Ihgs for reasonable progress are
not to be denied. IL we are to be
spared the uprisings of peoples
mace desperate in the desire to
snake OF burdens no longer en-
uuraoIe. competition in armament
must stop. The present oppor-
UNITY not only derives its adj
vantage from a general apprecia-
.ion OF this fact, but the power
10 zeal with the exigency now
rests with a small group of ma
tions' represented here. who have
every reason to desire peace and
l" promote amity. The astound-
ing ambition which lay athwart
the promise OF the second Hague
conference no longer menaces the
world. and the great opportunity
OF Ilberty-lovinE and peace-pre-
serving democracies has come. Is
IL not plain that the time has
passed for mere resolutions that
the responsible mowers shoulo
examine the question of Iimita-