The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-05
Iazcvence Predicts Success
of Washington Conference

tressed Americans in various parts of
Central and South America? If SO, then
a few ships are sufficient
Shall the navy be big enough to defend
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from any
enemy whatsoever? Then it must be as
large as the greatest navy, namely, the
British.
Shall the American navy be as large as
that Of any power except Great Britain
Shall it always be greater than that of
Japan? The answer is the maintenance
then of a navy as big as our present es-
adjustment and the continuance of the
present cost
Question of Foreign Policy.
In other words. what is the foreign
policy of America to be-aggressive or
defensive. worldwide or purely nationalE
Obviously it would be cheaper II
America and Great Britain could agree to
act together in the future as they did IN
the European war. The combined
strength of the two navies would be able
TO overcome any potential foe. But an
alliance with one nation is considered
dangerous-it only leads to the growth
of other alliances to offset the first. so
d general combination of all naval pow
erS bound together to preserve the peace
would be the cheapest proposition that
could be MADAM association of nations.
Woodrow Wilson thought reduction of
armament IN te1lSt NpulN IbliON uuANNiHtAi
adoption of the league of nations. His
formula has been rejected for the time
being by the United States. President
Harding has another formula. less rigid
than Mr.. Wilson's. but having for its
object international cooperation as eX-
pressed in the Republican national plat
form of 1920-namely, agreement among
nations to reduce armament and preserve
peace
Deneuds ON Moral Force.
If America decides taat each nation
ought to be permitted to fulfil its aspira-
lions along national lines. then the de-
mand of the American navy will be for
a position the equal of any other or nearly
so. If America decides to pool her
strength with the others, our naval eN-
perts viii be compelled to propose radi-
cal reductions on every side of course
nothing would be done till all nations
would agree. The good faith of each
power would be pledged to the observance
OF the new treaty or convention. \ viola
tiOn of the treaty would be a matter for
common concern and consultation. Mr..
Wilson's league was interpreted as i'm
yolving physical force at once to punish
such a violation. Mr.. Hardings idea is
to let moral force and the play of world
opinion back the offending nation into 4
corner and compel obedience. SubSe-
quently, it might become necessary for
the powers to take steps to Squelch mill
taristically inclined nation.
If there's an agreement on Far Eastern
questions and all the nations including
Japan sign it. the various navies will be
morally bound to see that Japan keeps
faith. 1t isn't necessary to prescribe pen
alties in advance. The European nations
have given evidence of what they will do
if treaties are made scraps of paper"
America prefers freedom of action--the
right to determine the nature of the viola-.
ton and what it shall do at the moment
That's where President Harding differs
from Woodrow Wilson, but basically they
have the same purpose of international
cooperation and consultation to preserve
peace.
Will Conference Succeed9