Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-13
continued From First Page

'ie governments may examine the
n ,'..siy OF an agreement as to the
limitation Of armed forces by land
anu sea. and Of war budgets.
U. y. Outlines Conference.
II was seven years later that the
secretary OF State OF the United
states. Mr.. Elihu Root. In answering
note OF the Russian Ambassador
suggesting int outline a program OF
me second peace conference, said:
Ihe government OF the United
o'ates. therefore. feels II to be its
uu'y to reserve for. Itself the liberty
10 propose 10 the second peace con
ference. as one OF the subjects for
CONSIDERATION. the reduction OF limi-
s"tion OF ornaments, in.the hope that
nothing further can be accom-
pIished, some slight advance may be
made toward the realization of the
iofty conception which actuated the
conference
Germany Against Disarn,tnE.
IL Is significant that the imperial
herman government expressed Itself
as absolutely opposed to the question
OF disarmament. and that the En-
Peror OF Germany threatened to de-
cline to send delegates II the subject
OF ,disarmament was to be discussed
In view. however, OF the resolution
which had been adopted at the first
hague conference, the delegates of
the United States were instructed that
the subject Of limitation of arma-
nents should be regarded as unfin-
ished business and that the second
conference should ascertain and give
full consideration to the result of
such examination as the governments
may have given to the possibility of
an agreement pursuant to the wish
expressed by the first conference
But by reason of the obstacles
which the subject had encountered,
tho second peace conference at Tho
Hague, although 1t made notable
full settlement OF controversies, was
unable to deal with Limitation of
armament except by a resolution in
the following general terms:
Tho conference confirms the reso-
tuition adopted by the conference of
1899 in regard to the limitation OF
military expenditure. and. inasmuch
as military expenditure has consid-
erably increased In almost every
country since that time, the confer
ence declares that II is eminently
desirable that the governments should
resume the serious examination of
this Question.'
Fruition Of Eight Years. Efforts.
This was the fruition of the eff
forts OF eight years. Although the
effect was clearly perceived. the race
In preparation OF armaments. wholly
unaffected by these futile suggestions.
went on until 1t fittingly eliminated
in the greatest war of history. and
we are now suffering from the un-
paralleled loss of life. the destruction
Of hopes. the economic disloca tions
and the widespread impoverishment
which measure the cost of the VIC
tory over the brutal pretensions of
military force.
But. IL we are warned by the in
adequacy OF earlier endeavors for
limitation OF armament. we cannot
FAIL to recognize the extraordinary
opportunity now presented.
I'VE not only have the lessons OF
the past to guide us, not only do we
have the reaction from the disillu-
sioning experiences OF war. but we
must meet the challenge OF impera-
tive economic demands. What was
convenient or highly desirable before
ls now a matter OF vital necessity.
II there is to be economic rchabiiita-
ton. IL the longings for reasonable
progress are not to be denied. IL we
are to tie spared the uprisings of peo-