New-York tribune., 1921-11-04
The Coming Conference

American citizen does not like to think
OF himself as in any sense an imperial.
ist. He knows that in spirit he is not
an imperialist, and that the fruit oil
his efforts will eventually vindicate his
motives, as In the liberation of Cuba
and the efforts to establish self-govern.
ment in the Philippines. He knows
that his people and his government
DO not covet one square foot Of land
anywhere on the surface of the globe
that they do not aim at supremacy on
the sea in any waters, that they are
ready to pledge the honor Of the ma
ton to any practicable projects Of
peace and just conduct, and he cannot
therefore, comprehend why voluntary
agreements that have created nation
OF forty-eight constitutionally gov.
erncd states should not culminate in
international understandings between
really civilized peoples for their COM
mon welfare and the elimination OF
appeals to armed force.
American citizen we'll understands that
when the essential conditions Of q just
and honorable existence cannot be had
by agreement, preparation must be
made for the defense Of fundamental
rights. Hating war, he is yet not in
capable Of bearing its burdens when
they arc thrust upon him, and all the
more resignedly when, after serious
efforts to avoid it, he is eventually
against his will forced into it.
If I rightly judge the temper of
tho American people at this time, they
have come to the conclusion that the
exaggerated expense Of keeping up
great military and naval establish
ments in the present financial and in
dustrial condition Of the world is not
only an unnecessary burden for the
peoples Of the world to bear, but a
crime in which they do not wish to
participate. They think it possible
that, in spirit Of fair and honorable
dealing, these burdens might well be
removed. They believe this to be
especially true Of the Pacific Ocean, in
which three or four powers could, by
agreement. on the basis of principles
the justice Of which every one Of them
recognizes in open debate and tries
to enforce where its own interests are
involved, offer guarantees which
would justify a discontinuance Of
large military and naval expenditure.
They are, therefore, looking to the
conference at Washington for such
guarantees. If there are reasons why
they cannot be given. they wish to
know what these reasons are. If there
are uncompleted projects which are of
nature to embarrass any of the mari
time powers if they do not increase,
and especially if they diminish, their
armament at sea, it would be interest
ing to know what these obstacles are
believed to be. If they are Of nature
that cannot be disclosed, then we shall
a. least be permitted, wc hope without
offense, to imagine what their nature
is and to state our opinions.
In view Of the fact that the really
formidable naval powers are now re-
duced to three or four, the process of
analysis is greatly simplified. There
would appear to be no naval power in
the world at present that is either to
shut off Canada's supplies or to dispute
with her any Of her possessions. In
perfect good faith she confides in the
friendly and pacific disposition Of the
United States on land frontier of
5000 miles between the United States
and Canada, on which there is not a
single fortress for defense on either
side, and on the unsalted seas which
she divides with us there is not one
ship of war. Why should Great
Britain have less confidence on the
Pacific, since we have no ally there,
or anywhere, whose exigencies might
drag US into war? If Canada is safe
under the shadow of her much larger
neighbor, why are not Australia and
New Zealand and the many islands the
British possession Of which has never
been contested by the United States
In brief, why should not such COM