The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-25
1 pace that will completely crush those
 who attempt to compete. Complete or No Disarmament

pace that will completely crush those who attempt to compete.
 Complete or No Disarmament
 It Is becoming clearer as the con- ference approaches that one of two will be an agreement to limit arma- things must happen. Either there will be an agreement to limit arma- ments in the future-not halting, hesItating agreement, but a whole hearted one--or there will grow cut of the barley, a staggering era of war preparation. For, if the other nations refuse to join with the United States in the limitation of arma- ments 1t will be plain to all that this country is isolated and must prepare to take a completely inde- pendent part in world affairs.
 It is unthinkable, of course. to :he Washington administration, that the other nations will not gladly join the United States, and it Is difficult to envisage a refusal at this time, of the leadership offered
 The Washington administration feels that the nations invited to the conference hold the peace of the world in their hands. Therefore, the forthcoming conference holds the is- sue of peace or war, If the nations arc earnestly desirous of peace. the United States. the most powerful of them all, is willing to meet them more than half way
 Shows Faith In Party
 As matter of fact, military and naval men already are declaring that the United States has shown it's earnestness by virtually disarming in advance of the conference. The army is being cut down to what amounts to little more than garrison strength, or a national police force. Building has been stopped on many important naval vessels of the first rank while other vessels are being allowed to fall into a non-serviceable condition due to the lack of a personnel sui ficient to keep the establishment up to anything like it's war time strength.
 However, it would be suicidal for the other nations of the world to mis- take the sentiment of the United States. There is pacificist sentiment in the United States simply because the American people are always ready to attribute high motives to other peoples and are unwilling to believe that any other peoples or any other governments would contem- plate war with this country.
 Let the drift of the forthcoming conference show belligerent atti- tude on the part of the other nations, and the sentiment of the American people would swing overn ght. It has swung just as quickly before.
 Deliberations Delicate
 The more that Washington obser- vcrs and diplomats study the coming conference at close range, the more delicate they realize it's deliberations will be. For this reason, there is very serious doubt that the sessions as whole. will be open to the public.
 President Harding and Secretary Hughes are earnestly endeavoring to find a means of the completest pub Hcity possible to all that goes on in the conference chamber, but it is realized that after all, it said and done, if the sessions were to be open to the public always they would drift into extremely formal affairs, with a lot of oratory for home consump tion, while the real agreements would be reached in private confer ences attended by only a few of the delegates.
 Of this, however, there can be no doubt: Greater efforts will pe made toward complete publicity than ever were attempted at any inter national gathering of similar i'm portance.