The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-11-12

AASs"u " CAS 1aHlC1lCe1 zueISSdClOIl, Ill
a number of conferences he has had
with the other delegates Of this coun-
try, has gone over this information
and has fully informed Elihu Root,
Senator Lodge and Senator Under
wood of the American policies in the
conference. 1t is understood to be
agreed that the United States will try
and secure these two main things in
the conference:
l. An effective agreement among
the powers for limitation of arma-
ment. ,.1 - ..I-.E
2. An "Open Door" treaty among
the powers for the Far East. :
The American delegation has ready
q concrete plan for an agreement for
limitation of naval ornaments to
present to the conference. The ques-
ton of limitation of land armament
will be taken up as the necessity arises
and when it is deemed advisable.
The principal powers in the confer
ence are. the United States, Great
Britain, Japan, France and Italy.
Not long ago, these five nations, un-
der the title of "The Allied and AS
sociated Powers" were partners in
another great enterprise-the Win
ming of the World war. Victorious in
that, they now rule the world. They
have decided to exert their present
great power to prevent a new plunge
by the world down the precipice of
war.
-Four lesser nations are also repre-
sented in the international conclave.
These are China, the Netherlands,
Belgium and Portugal.
They have been invited to take part
in the discussions which will be held
in the conference in an effort to settle
the Far Eastern situation, because Of
their interests in that part Of the
world. About China will undoubted-
ly revolve the greater part of the dis
cussions of Far Eastern questions.
Yesterday, on the third anniversary
of the ending Of the great war, an
unknown American soldier was laid
to rest to the accompaniment Of the
highest honors in the power of this
nation to give, and the homage that
America and the world paid seemed
to be in the spirit Of hope that the
horror of the World war will not be
repeated.
The great trust imposed in the
world statesmen gathered here for
the conference, therefor, has been
wildly impressed on them and their
governments.
The task of the Washington con-
ference is one in which the powers Of
the world have made repeated fail
ures..
The powers failed to reach an
agreement for disarmament or linn
itation of armament in the first Hague
Peace Conference of 1899, when the
United States refused to have any
thing to do with this movement, and
at the second Hague Peace Confer
ence Of 1907, when this government
took the initiative in pressing this
plan for peace just as it is doing now.
All nations and diplomats admit
the benefits that will accrue to man
kind if the conference is successful
the relief that will come from the
staggering burdens Of taxation if the
nations agree to refrain from or to
restrict to minimum the sinking of
millions of dollars in the present few
erish race to build more battleships,
and cruisers, always bigger and more
powerful; and the relief from inter-
national tension, for with nations
continually augmenting their war ma
chimes, their militarists become more
and more impatient to test out their
playthings. ~ ....,
But, under present plans, the Wash
ington conference will get down to
the fundamental causes of the main
tenance by the powers of huge arma-
ments, and try to wipe out these fac
tors, which also are potential causes
of new war.
This effort is to be made in the. dis
cussion of Pacific and Far Eastern
questions in the conference. To the
Pacific and Far East has shifted the
clash Of interests of the world pow
ers, and, consequently, it is in these
far-reaching areas where there lies
the danger Of a new war.
The conference is expected to pro-
coed first with the discussions of Pa
cific and Far Eastern problems, for
it is the belief of the United States
that the possibility Of an
effectual agreement for Limitation of
armament largely hinges on settle
ment of the Far Eastern question.
Much Of the preliminary work on
the limitation of armament ques-
ton is expected to be carried on by
the negotiators concurrently with the
Of Far Eastern ques-
tons, so, as the situation in the Pa
cific and Far East clears up, the con-
ference can Immediately proceed to
try and reach an agreement on limi-
tation of armament.
Washington for weeks has been in
a furry of excitement about the i'm
pending conference.
For days, distinguished foreign
plenipotentiaries have been arriving