The St. Mary banner., 1921-12-03
Little Thoughts On Big
Topics.
The United States has spoken.

The United States has spoken.
Briefly, America proposes to take
the lead in the scrapping Of warships
and the practical suspension Of nava
construction for period Of ten
years.
The buck is at the feet Of the ma
tions Of the old world. They can not
pass it. Neither can they kick it a.
side. They must act, for or against.
If they sincerely desire peace the*
can have it by adopting the simple
expsdient of meeting the eminently
fair proposition of this country.
If they have secret leanings to-
ward future wars and conquest they
will hagle and hedge and the con-
ference will fail of its purpose.
The world is holding its breath.
Whether the final outcome is to be
permanent peace and the reduction
of. the heavy burdens Of armament
remains to be seen.
Europe has yet to speak.
Without a doubt the people of the
civilized world are earnestly hoping
for a solution of the arms question
that will bring continued and lasting
peace to the earth. But what the peo-
pie desire, and what governments
will do, are often widely at variance
Delegates from the principal world
powers represented in Washington
were quick to rally from the stun
ming blow administered by Secretary
Huges. They accepted "in principal
the American proposals, but qualified
their acceptance with the statement
that the actual working out of such
revolutionizing plan would depend
mainly upon the possibility of their
technical experts and advisers being
able to reach q common ground Of
understanding.
Therein lies the great danger, and
it is grave indeed
These technical advisers" may rise
to the supreme occasion and liberate
the world from the blight of war
Then again they may not. No one
knows in advance just what an Eek
pert" will do or say. Technically is
/. their god, the shrine at which they
worship. They live in an atmosphere
Of their own, out Of touch and out OF
4 harmony with the mass Of the peo
pie.
As you follow the proceedings of
the parley from day to day just keep
these facts in mind and your enthu-
siasm in check.
The American proposals were ac-
, eepted only 'in principle"
, No country could afford to 60 on
record as doing less, after America
Z. had taken the lead.
In working out the details the Tex
perts" attached to each set Of dele
gates will vancouver for position, in
the age old effort to gain as much
rs possible for self.
Each will be ready to accept sac
rihces from others, but few will be
willing to make them.
The common ground of under
standing" will be difficult to reach.
1t may not be reached at all.
The daily press has supplied US
with volumes and volumes of long
winded articles and press dispatches
On the arms question. No human be-
ing can digest it all. It would be fol-
" even to attempt it. The publish
efsz are in q mad scramble to see
which can dish up the most DOPE"
Each is entitled to a prize.
But the facts are as above-in few
words.
Do not believe all that you read on
the subject. Our asylums are already
overcrowded.
Washington correspondents are
versatile. They possess the ability to
write glowing articles even upon sub
jects Of which they know little-or
nothing. They must earn their pay.
And do not be hasty in jumping to
conclusions. You might have to jump
back again before the conference ad-
i0nrra