Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-08
DISARMAMENT NOW
HEIGHT OF FOLLY,
WEEKS DECLARES.
Continued from page

In view. But we must remember that
the passions OF war and the disturb
ances to society. as wen as to the IN
dividual, cannot be overcome or for
gotten in q day. Only tiHne- and a
great deal of time. win bring people
and nations back to n normal condi-
ton.
Folly for l.. $. TO Disarm First
The past is history--the future,
mystery. II would be folly to let our
hopes for the future blind our eyes To
the facts of the past History demon-
strates that this world, since its very
| Creation. has revolved in a cycle i'm
| which peace ends in war just as war
in turn ends in peace. / believe that.
the world is gradually returning TO a
state OF mind where. with vivid
recollection. of the horrors of the past
war, IL can take definite action in.
bringing about reduction in arIna-
ment
Under present conditions. however,
Ii would be the height of folly for the
United States TO be the first TO dis
arm.
World wide disarmament must
come as the result of an international-
agreement and must be done stimuli
taneously. Prudence would not per-
NIT our disarming while others hold
weapons in their hands"
Definite Military Policy Needed.
Returning to the possibility of al
conflict with other countries. Mr.. ]
Weeks declared the time had come
when this country must have al
definite military policy. The National
Defense Act, which became a law
June I. 1920. is the policy which he /
thought should govern the army.
After an exhaustive study OF the I
act. he said, ne had been unable to /
find in it a single requirement he
might consider unwise.
No Longer an Isointed Nation.
THAT the United States continued
FOR 50 long without military policy !
worthy OF the name he said, was
largely due to our geographical iso-
alton and comparatively minor in
erest in the affairs of the rest of
he world. But, whether we like il
,r not, this state of physical and po-
itfcal detachment from the rest of the
world no longer exists I
The selective service law used byi
he United States during the world ] !
var served the purpose for which IL !;
vas drafted. Mr.. Weeks said. but he ?
that a draft law OF much I
roader scope should he adopted IL
mother conflict were 20 come upon /,
he nation. III
Honesty Greatest Need of Hour. ! +
"if all men were honest" the .ecre- .
sry concluded. there would be no. /,
ecessity for maintaining a police !
orce II all nations were disintcrest- !
4, did not covet that which belonged !
, others and especially did hot seek !
, promote their own selfish advantage
| the expense of other nations,
lere would be little necessity for
an army. But all men are
OF h~ abiding and all nations ars +
OF unselfiSh. and therefore, we need
olicemcn and armies
Others May Crave Our Wealth.
"In many cases, in some parts az
le world. there are developing large
Sces@es ~ population requiring ex-
ansion Of territory. The future can
My add to the requirements Of ma
one for increased territory. and there 4
An be no assurance. Notwithstanding
,r own dfsinterestedness and desire
,r peace. that our wealth WI not be
-aved by others less fortunate.
Time has not lesaened the wisdom
washington's advice. In time OF
aace. prepare for war II is as es-
initial in the preservation Of the re- :
lbiic in 1921 as it was in 1850" :