The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-23
"What Is China?" Re-
Mains Vital Problem for
Conference to Unravel.
JAP TREATY STILL
BREEDS TROUBLES
London Editor Explains
Hard Questions Con-
cerning Far East.
By WICKHAM STEED.
Editor of London Times.


announcement that the Committee
on Pacific and Far Eastern ques-
tions had agreed on four general
principles in regard to China has
strengthened the feeling that the
conference has now made me1sur-
ablo progress toward success.
Nevertheless much, very much. still
remains to be done. The hardest
tasks of the conference still lie
before it. They are all the hardcI
because. by their very nature. they
are not Immediately susceptible to
the influence of public opinion. but
demand precise thinking and some
degree of moral courage from the
delegates themselves.
Before commenting upon them il
is necessary for a moment 10 re-
vert to Mondays sitting and to de-
fine its significance. NJ. BRAND
really gave the conference a con-
yincing and exhaustive exposition OF
the necessities OF France. and. a.
Mr.. Balfour said, took his hearers
into the inner sanctuary Of French
policy. Whether the English texr
of his speech, which was the result
OF gallaAt effort on the part Of the
French translator. will make on the
American people the same deep i'm
preston ii made OF those who heard
and understood ii in the original. u
is difficult to estimate: but Amer
leans in general will certainly COM
prehcrd the meaning Of Mr.. Bal
four's and Nj. Hughes Endorsement
OF il.
Balfour Made Pledge.
Mr.. Bslfour's speech amounted to
a virtual pledge. whole -heartedly
giver~in the presence OF representa-
tives OF the United States. that, in
case OF renewed aggression by Ger
many on France or Belgium. the
British Empire will not shrink from
supporting the same cause for which
it made immense sacrifices in the
war. Similar. II not identical value
attached to the most telling pas
sage in Mr. Hughes speech: Ma I
say, in response 10 a word which
challenged us all as il was uttered
by Mr.. BRAND, that there is no
moral isolation for tho defenders
OF liberty and OF justice We un-
derstand the difficulties: what ha.
been said will he read throughout
this broad land by peop!- that dc
siTes to understand"
The public at home should there
fore not be misled into scepticisrn,
or INTO the mistake Of undercsti-
mating the value OF Mondays Ut
terances. Some writer's. foreign
and American. seem iadccd to
wish to engender negative and
respondent mood among their read
ers. A prominent American journal
has aptly named them peace de-
featists.' The effect Of their writ
inEs. could they carry the public
with them. would he to sap the
strength of statesmen who are
really striving to do something
good and lasting Such statesmen
need every support. ana when writ :
ers upon whom devolvoS RESPONSE |
bility for the Interpretation Of the
meaning of the conference To- the |
public Criticise or max. suEges-
tons. their criticism should he con-
structive and their suggestions in |
spired by helpful intention.
More Insight ecded.
The successful solution Of the
problems tat are still before the
conference prcsupposcs an accurate
understanding in all quarters of the
conditions under which each DEL /
egation has tC work While il is
comparatively easy to reach an
agreement on general principles. il
will be much harder so TO define |
the application OF these principles
as to render them real guide to
future policy This is true at once
of the four general principles I
agreed upon in regard to China by
the Committee on Pacific and Far
Eastern questions. and Of the tech !
nical aspects Of the limitation OF
naval armaments.
Referring to the agreement Of
tho Far Eastern committee on these
principles. Mr.. Hughes said on
Monday: 81 think ! am justified in
saying that our expectations with
respect to the expedition and thor
ouEhness Of our consideration Of
these matters have already been
more than realized" II is undoubt-
edly good thing that these prin-
ciplcs should be enunciated con-
cordan tly by the powers represent
ed at the conference. Though sim
liar principles are already en-
bodied in existing treaties, joint
enunciation enhances their valid
ity. and gives to each power sep
arately the right to watch over
their observance by the other pow
ers. But something more precise
will be needed if the conference is
ultimately TO escape the reproach
of having departed from its origi-
nal promise OF preferring deeds to
words
"What f. China.-
The conference has not yet faced,
much less answered, the riddle
which, as | said few days ago,
is writ large over its portals:
What is China?" The principles
now enunciated contemplate the
provision of an opportunity for
China to develop and to maintain
for herself an effective and stable
government. How is that oppor-
tunity to be provided? Surely not
by letting things drift from chaos
to chaos, with the leaders of one
section Of the country striving
against the leaders of other sec
tions for opportunities to exploit
the Chinese masses for personal
ends. the leaders of each section