The Bozeman courier., 1921-11-16
NAVAL LIMITATIONS.

Secretary of State Charles e. Hughes created
a sensation among those representatives of for
eign nations, in Washington, when he submitted
to the limited armament conference at its first
meeting the proposal of the United States tC
scrap big portion of the greatest naval equip
ment of the world. Tt came as complete sur.
prise not only to those from other nations, but
to the people of the United States as well. And 9
most agreeable surprise it proved to be also.
The proposal demonstrated one thing to all who
are interested in the movement, and that is the
attitude of this country in the matter. The pro
posal was no halfway suggestion, it was clean
cut bold proposition to do away with the exces
sively expensive methods now being followed by
all the greater world powers, in building naval
equipment. 1t was an open challenge to the world
put in manner to be agreeable to all nations
and demonstrated the entire earnestness of the
United States The proposal in its dealing with
the nations clearly showed this country ready tc
make the greatest sacrifice of valuable equipment
if by doing so the struggle for great navies can
be stopped.
All other nations at the conference, once the
representatives realized the extent and the fair
ness of the proposition, hastened to agree to it
only reserving certain notifications relative tC
some of the minor details. The nations of the
world realized, when they had consumed the con-
tents Of the statement made by Secretary Hughes
the determination of the United States to take the
lead in this great cause There were no ifs nol
ands in it. The proposal came with definite fig
ures, so much so, that it was not necessary to de-
vote many hours to explanations. It said plainly
that the three largest navies of the world would
scrap sixty-siX of their largest battleships That
alone was a clear-cut move. There were no com
ment to be offered.
Should the proposal be finally agreed to, in sub
stance as it has been made by the United States
it will bring about something that every natior
has longed for. The alacrity with which Eng
land, France, Italy and Japan agreed to the pro
posal leads all to believe they have been wishing
for just such an agreement, but were each uncer
tain of the others attitude. Like the story of the
two Irishmen fighting and agreeing that the ont
desiring to quit was to say Sufficient" Whel
finally called out the word, the other said
praises be, have been trying to think of tina
word for half an hour"
Mr. Balfour, of England, representing tha
country at the conference stated in a speech mad
when ne accepted the proposal for England tha
he listened to it with wonder, for proposal sue
as this coming from the greatest nation in tn
world, demonstrated it was no halfway move
ment. He pictured the date as one to stand on
more prominently than nearly every other in th
history Of the world. It would be, in his estims
tion the point marking decided change in fee
ing and attitude Of I'll nations toward every otht
in the world. The United States taking the lea
in this great movement to stay the eternal stru,
gle OF nations to outdo their neighbor in fightir
equipment, he stated would do more to brir
about perfect peace throughout the world ths
any other attempt Our statesmen were give
great honor for Offering the proposal
The people Of the United States are showeril
praise upon the officials at Washington for Il
stand taken. There is that disgusted state
mind among the one hundred million citizens
the United States, against warfare, that any mo
to prevent a recurrence of war conditions is mo
welcome For many years the people of this n
tion have resented the great amount of mon
annually spent in building naval equipment. T.
burden has become so great that protests ha
never ceased from year to year. The outlook {
a stop to the enormous expenditures is look
upon a salvation. The millions heretofore spe
for battleships if devoted to public educational
stitutions viii enlighten and educate the childr
of today IN such manner that in future yea
wars viii be unheard Of The United States c
well afford to scrap its capital ships and st
building them for many years, if the pub
schools of the country can be bettered
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