Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-16

promise to the world that there shall be
no more war. that there shall be everlast-
ing peace--2fter Che painful struggle
from which we have just emerged, we
have no right to let the people Of the
world hope for final peace unless we
have made up our minds 10 prepare and
20 decide upon the means that are most
appropriate in order TO realize these
hopes.
Many conferences and congresses
have already met in order to try TO car
~ out this noble idea, and Mr. Balfour
was quite right when IL pointed ont the
great danger there was in looking al this
question through he glass OF idealis.n
But, Mr.. Secretary, (AIr Hughes), you
have shown US the way; you have shown
/ that it was no longer i question OF
cropping for a way out of the difficulty,
you have struck out boldly the op2ortun-
, ity for us ny setting the example. l
may say that we are back OF you, Mr.
1 secretary.
! of course during these difficult, ardu-
/ Gus examinations OF the details OF the
! subject, upon which, after all depends
the practical realization If it happens
/ that We are taken cut OF the straight
| way and feel the temptation of using the
devious paths, we on the psf OF France
/ are ready to join our efforts to those of
other men of good will and help in re-
turning t the fair, straight road that
would take us to our goal.
The question with which we have first
/ to deal here is of course one that mainly
! concerns the great naval powers, but
! may say for my part that / nave listenei
/ with great joy 10 the very large, broad
! and general adhesion given in principle
/ by the government OF Great Britain and
! Japan. Il IS not that France feels entire
! y disinterested in this question. We
/ snail have, l hope, an opportunity Of
saying this and showing Il, hut ] may
. say now-and this will be carried out
! lat'r on by figures and by demonstration
! that We have already entered upon the
right away and that We have already done
something in the direction you Indicate
/ The war has kept u'3 down to a certain
level, Of course. Il has prevented us
I frcln carrying out our plans for weak
| eset, perhaps too week Tor the necessi-
! lies OF nation deefnse.
But / will not dwell on this subject
l rather turn to another side Of the
problem TO which Mr.. Balfour has al
luded, and I thank him for this. Is Il only
a question here of economy? Is il only a
! question OF estimates and budgets? If II
were so. if that We're the only purpose
you have IN view. II will be really un-
Svcrthy of the great nation that has called
US here. So, the main question. the cru
cial, which is TO be discussed here is 10
know if the people Of the world will ~
least be able 10 come 20 an UNDERSTANDING
in order to avoid the atrocities of war
And then, gentlemen, when il comes on the
agenda. as it will inevitably come to the
question Of land armament i question
particularly delicate for France. rs YOU
are all aware, We have no intention &c
eschew this. We shall answer your ap-
peal, fully conscious that this Is a ques-
ton Of a grave and serious nature for US
The question will DC raised: has been
raised, gentlemen, and IL there IS =
country that desires. that demands. tina;
the question Of land ornaments be raised
II is France. II VIII cone in due TINE
before the conference, and I hope that
shall enjoy the opportunity. and that !
shall lbe able 20 slatc publicly IN o.e OF
lie meetings Of tbs conference what the