Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-06
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN

Washington, u. c., Dec. s.-That
the disarmament conference has be-
come a contest. in which each OF the
nations represented is striving TO gain
some relative advantage in naval and
military strength over the others, -
now apparent to all who have closely
followed the proceedings.
Furthermore. 1t is no surprise TO
those who understood the nature OF
the gatherings. No nation Is going
to disarm as long ms the causes OF
international war remain unchanged,
for the simple reason that they are
bound TO cause war again. a certain
saving in taxes is tho most that can
be expected from the disarmament
phase of tho conference. Its consid-
Grafton of tho Far Eas. question. on
the other hand. may. be regarded as
tho nearest thing TO a sincere attempt
which modern diplomacy has ever
made to remove causes OF war
whether the attempt will have any
success Mt all remains doubtful.
France, Is coming in for great
deal OF criticism because OF her re-
fu.al to reduce her standing army.
which she asserts she needs 20 protect
her against Germany and Russia. "
has been pointed out repeatedly that
both of these nations arc ircapacitat-
ed for an indefinite length of time.
France is accused Of employins sop
hls,ries to establish her right TO
large army. .......--. .r
So. II appears. she Is. and 50 are
all tho other nations. Her standing
army is all France has. She possess
es no strength on the sea where she IS
outclassed by three other powers
England. the United States aud Japan.
Each of those nations is trying 10 gct
out OF the disarmament conference"
nj = tfaI n ~
Iapan stands out rcsolutely for ratio
which will leave her relatively strong
or than shc was before the confer
cnce. She brings forward tho sop
histrv that her peculiar position makes
necessary this extra strength.
THE SUBMARINE QUESTION
England stands out for reducing
the submarine to the lowest possible
status. Hemmcd in on hor little is
land. Great Britain Is more menaccu
by the submarine than by anNthinE
else. II nearly starved her during
tho war, II is capable OF making
tho transportation OF food and ma
terial from her colonies almost impos-
sibIe. on the othcC hand, II is not
important 10 tho defense of. her short
in.ular coast line Hence large sub
marine fotiiiaS and the development
of the submarine arc the greatest
menaces to England. She Is in favor
Of almost sboiishinE submarines. she
aiSo comes forw.rd with hcr little
sophistries. what horrible thing
submarine warfare Is
Tho United states Is not 50 Impress
cd with this horror. Submarines arc
extremely useful on the defense OF a
long coast limo like ours, We are IN
favor OF rather large supply OF sub
marinos Furthermore. Tho genuine
ness Of our desire TO dissrm was put TO
Tho test. Il seems when poison "a
wa. mentioned. II was suggested
that poison gas be eliminated alto
s-ether from international warfare. as
the most horrible weapon OF all, ana
tho American delegation demurred.
II is said that our War Department
has tho formula for tho most destruc-
tivo gas ON earth. and that in tho next
war II will he our strongest asset.
Arc We going TO throw II away We
should say not.
All of this is no criticism OF any
one. 1t is merely = statement OF the
Inevitable No nation is going to dis
arm as long as the world is full ~
things and situations that arc capable
Of causing International wars. pitar-
nsment will be possible when cause
for international war has been abDl
ished everywhere ss completely. for
example. MS cause for war between
the United states and Canada has
been abolished. And these causes for
international war will be abolished
when the common man refuses to
fight and pay taxes.
A good many common men In the
world are in revolt against bloodshed
and taxes now. That Is the real rea-
son why the conference assembled.
That r. the reason for all of its bum
comhe about peace and fraternity. and
for what sincere efforts 1t Is making