Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-10
GOOD FAITH AND CONFIDENCE.

For the success OF the approaching armament
conference. two things are necessary; good faith
and mutual confidence.
The conference can succeed in reducing the
ornaments Of the world and in relieving the world
c. the danger of war only insofar as the nations
represented III that conference are earnestly desir-
Gus of bringing about that result. If there is no
sincere desire in this direction, the conference might
better not have been held. If, on the other hand,
the nations assemble impelled bv a strong desire
for real peace and willing to make whatever adj
lustn1ents NAV be necessary to insure peace, then
we have excellent reason for hope. If any nation
enters the conference in the expectation or in the
hope that by skillful play. it will be able to improve
Its own position at the expense Of its neighbors. to
retain its own lead while its %neighboTs diminish in
strength. or to step from a subordinate position to
one OF leadership in armament, that fact is quite
certain to become manifest before the proceedi1 rs
have gone very far. It is possible that ambitions
Of this kind entertained by one nation alone might
be foreborn by the combined action of the other ma
lions, and that the ambitious nation may be forced
into a position which it would not adopt of it's own
vo}ition, but generally speaking, the will to peace
must exist before the conference can achieve real
results Tor the benefit of humanity.
Granted that there is this good faith, that the
nations meet to bring about that which they pro-
TESS to desire. there must be an element of mutual
confidence before the desired results can be attain
cd. A particular nation must deal frankly with all
its ne1ghbors, it must be convinced of their good
faith, and it must be willing to demonstrate it's
own. For this reason it seems likely that if a def
rite agreement is reached for the limitation of arm
ar1ent, some provision must be made which will
open to the worlds inspection the armament OF ev-
cry nation involved. There have been many charg-
es for instance, that Germany is not acting in good
faith with reference to the limitation of her forces
in: accordance with the terms Of her treaties, and
that instead of maintaining a military force neces-
ssry only for police protection, she is maintaining
snd perfecting in skeleton form a military organiza-
ton Whichfan be made, on very short notice, a new
menace to the world. 1t is quite possible that a ma
ton if 50 determined, may conduct itself in this
manner and may conceal quite successfully from its
neighbors for a long time, the military measures
which It IS taking One of the elements in connec-
ton with which there must be full publicity if we
are to realize the benefits which are to be expected
from this conference is that of what steps are being
taken in each Of the nations affected III carrying out
all the agreements which are entered into. It IS
not to- be expected that secrets as to military APP
pliancessandSpossible military plans will be thrown
open to- the world by any nation, but it is reasonable
III suppose that facts pertaining to constructions, to
organization of forces, and things which relate d.
tsctiy 10 the volume of military preparation viii Be
made subject to inspection BY all who are interest
cd and that Willingness that there should Be such
inspectior viii be accented as evidence Of good
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