The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-21
The End Of a Perfect Week.

1NHE Washington conference is a week old. 1t
has had a week in which to recover its
equilibrium which was thrown very much
out of plumb Also, all the diverse influences for
good evil have had these same seven days to
get a grip on themselves. Those which
good have discovered that it not all but
the shouting; that there is first down" and that
it will take good hard playing to put Secretary
Hughes across with the ball. The other kind are
beginning to the arts and devices they had
stored up, but hnd it hard to get so much
hearing, while their monkey wrenches and sand
have effect upon the machinery.
The American plan not proposed in
flexible project. But the days pass, it seems
more apt to stand with but little change. Great
Britan's acceptance in principle is becoming an
acceptance in fact. Her proposed amendments
have been based upon recognized conditions pc
culiar to her. She would wholly prohibit submarine
construction: so, believe, would all Americans
unless those directly interested in their building
She would increase her own quota OF what she
calls police boats" or the lighter, swift, armored
cruisers.
-. Naturally people are somewhat suspicious of
the British when they base any proposition on
sentiment. In neither of these proposals is there
in fact an ounce of sentiment so far as she is con-
cerned Submarines threaten not alone her COM
merce but her life. They the weapon
she most breads and has most to dread
while her best protection against them and all
other threats her commerce. the light cruis-
crs which proved their worth in IoI4-I6. These
proposed amendments are very practical safeguards
for Great Britain and she would get further with
them if she was perfectly frank about what every
knows facts.
This government, too, might well take like
dose of frankness to submarines In the past
few months the country has been covered feet deep
with postal cards and circulars telling the value
of submarines as the great weapon. The
workmen in the submarine shipyards organized to
send these out but probably did not pay the bills.
How much of the American reservation as to
submarines and insstence this feature have
their origin in this source, is OF course,
known. But it is quite evident that the people Of
this country want none of them.
has been backslidng was to be
pected She accepted readily and fully as the
British This was, however, before the delegates
heard from Toxic. They the trend OF the
times; they felt the weight of world opinion when
it was free to be expressed. They and the small
army Of Japanese correspondents, the most cos
nopolitan of all Japs, were agreed for acceptance
The correspondents have not changed. The dele
gates apparently have The home authorities have
made their position far more difficult for them,
only on this question but by reflex influence on the
far more important question, to Japan, Of the
Far East.
Japan has such excuse as has Great Brit
ain, She is not "far flung" empire. Her trade
routes are comparatively simple and she has no
foreign possessions interests save those just
across the way on the other side of closed sea.
There is not a power that threatens her on the
sea There is none whose ambitions conflict with
hers Germany is out of the East and has navy.
Russia is equally stripped of power to harm on the
sea Every pacific interest is now represented in
this conference with Japan. Which one does she
fear2 Which one is in any sense menace to her?
Against which one does she need to arm?
So it is the conference has come to the period
of bargain 1t was inevitable and comes under
much better auspices than might have been hoped
1t is possible, but highly improbable, that Mr..
Hughes may have to make another speech, this time
telling exactly why agreement has not been
reached and exactly who has INDUCED in sabotage
But Great Britain has way of getting what she
wants and what she wants here and now is peace
good will friendly agreement and restored markets
This first week has been that of the United States.
No other could have played the same role, nor with
sucb brilliant success AS The Herald sees it, the
coming weeks will see Great Britain, patient, some
what ponderous but slipping, take her place
unobtrusively as the controlling influence 1t will
be well if she does
IL.