Evening star., 1921-10-05
PUT ARMS PAR[EYS
HERE ABOVELEAGUE
Canadians Think More Can
Be Accomplished in U. S.
Than at Geneva.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
OTTAWA, Canada, October Sit is
being argued by some Canadian edi-
tors and public men that toward real
disarmament much more can probably
be done at the coming Washington
conference than by the league Of ma
tions. In fact, the Montreal Star goes
as far-referring to the coming con-
ference at the United States capital
as to state that 1t Is the only body
that can accomplish a saving limita:
tion Of naval armament on the part Of
the three important sea powers"
So far as Canada is concerned there
is every desire for disarmament, but
phasizing the Importance Of the con-
ference as there would be under nor
NAL conditions. Canada is now in the
throes of general election. and the
newspapers are now devoting much
space to just how far the new United
States tariff does and does not affect
Canadian conditions.
For Higher Tariff.
The object. Of course, is to dragon
Of a high tariff to protect Canadian
industries-and inferentially to edu-
cate people not to support the new
Farmers party, as they are advocating
free trade-or at least much lower
tariffs than at present.
Both the union men OF Canada and
the returned soldiers through their
organizations are coming out strong
ly in favor of limitation of arma-
ments. Sir Arthur Currie, comman-
der of the Canadian forces in France,
will represent the Dominion at the
great international gathering that
veterans are to have at Kansas City
this month. and 1t Is expected there
will be a resolution passed there ad-
vocating disarmament. .-
It is not known here whether there
will be provision at the Washington
conference for direct labor repre-
sentation. but II there is the Domin-
gate or delegates.
The Montreal Star says: "The as:
sembly seems to have had one good
| idea, however. Its commission on
disarmament finds that the Wash.
ington conference can better deal
with the question Of naval disarma-
ment than can the league 1t can
very much better. It is. indeed. the
only body that can accomplish a
saving Limitation OF naval armaments
on the part of the three important
sea powers.
Must Dig Down to Realities.
when We come to the real business OF
disarmament, We must get right away
from gensralities ard smooth formulas
and rhetorical moonshine. We must dig
down to realities. and recognise the fact
that nations do not arm because 1t is
all the rage or for fiimsy reasons Of any
sort, but because they suffer from a
u,-shaking fear that they may act
ually have to fight. Obviously the only
way to prepare for genuine disarmament
is to resolutely remove all possible
causes Of war. That can be done In just
one way-by frankly taking up these
points Of friction. discussing them in
practical fashion and disposing Of them
to the satisfaction Of every one con-
cerned No loosely worded resolution.
70 matter how noble it's language or
how high-minded its purpose. can ac-
ccmplish this. 1t Is 4 business OF getting
down to brass tacks,' and deciding
what is to be done about fap. about
Shantung, about China, about Siberia,
about fortifications in the Pacific, about
racial equality and all the rest Of it.
This is tho sort Of work that the
Washington conferences will attempt to
do. If they succeed In clearing the Pa
cific and the far east Of vexed ques-
tions, then 1t will be the simplest mat
ter IN the world to agree upon q scale
Of ornaments. II they fail-and II a
fierce and determined competition in
naval armamentS ensueS-then Few men
will have the courage to envtsaGo clearly
the noss'b'e consequence"