The New York herald., 1921-11-14
LONDON ASTONISHED
BUT ADMIRES PLAN
Continued from First Page.

| moned TO deal. So far as Great Britain
is concerned there IS no reason why the
scheme should not be accepted without
qualification; so far as the period of a
decade is concerned 1t offers to US. ir
-, more than we claim. We believe
Ae proposals are thoroughly practical
and viii succeed"
The paper says adoption OF the pro.
posal would leave Great Britain I'm g
very good position. and lmagines thai
he Admiralty will accede readily enough
AS to the possible opposition of Japan
and the certain opposition of the great
armament firms, which it considers as
Offering the real obstacles to the scheme
the Gaeetto thinks that the former will
not be very serious, for in it's opinion
the scheme is perfectly fair to Japan
and would leave her no worse off than
she is to-day and no worse off than she
would be at any given moment IL the
existing programmes of construction In
America and Great Britain were put
into effect.
LONDON, Nov. IA (Associated Press)
Overwhelming surprise and a dispo.
sition to reserve immediate Judgment
seems to be the keynote OF tho comment
in most of the London morning papers
on the proposals of the American Sec
retary of State at the Washington con-
ference
The Times treats the proposal with
sympathetic admiration, but emphasizes
that it will have to be carefully con-
sidered.
by the very boldness with which II
has thrown aside the traditions OF old
fashioned diplomacy" says the Times
1T Immediately captured the imagina-
ton of the people OF the United States
We believe that in many respects 1t will
appeal not less forcibly to the peoples
of Europe
The Daily Chronicle, remarlling that
Secretary Hughes has added a rider &c
the usual concept that policy governs
armaments. namely, that armaments
also affect policy, contends thai until
the political fires are extinguished no
reduction in armaments, however. in
genious and sincere, can nope 20 en-
dure.
Secretary Hughes" says the Chron:-
Gle, thinks that the two parts. the re-
duction of armaments and political
settlement, may proceed simultaneously
He may be right. At any rate, 1t is a
great thing on the very first day of the
conference to have brought down so big
a quarry to discuss. 1t Is better SO than
to hold UP the design OF the superstruc-
ture, as they did at Paris, while they
had dug deep the foundations OF the
covenant"
The newspaper says tho world Is in
debted to the United States for its
broad humanity and incisive vigor.
eft is cur English way 20 turn over
very critically all proposals affecting
the strength OF the navy, but 1t SHOULD
~ = r4of,
serves on account of the vastness of the
sea areas we have TO patrol, tho Amer
lean proposals strike lis as quite fair to
ourselves. Whether Japan will accept
Anglo-American superiority Of four to
one remains to be seen.
"She is quite capable OF presenting
her own case, but we do not think her
case will be to whittle down the proposed
reductions More probably she will
argue that they do not go far enough.
and that there are other elements of
naval power than the number of ships"
Tho Herald, the labor organ, SCOTS at
President Harding's pronouncement on
peace, which it says recalls President
Wilson.
president Wilson" SAYS the news
paper, was simply a politician in the
world of capitalistic policies and did
"
dent Harding will do. With the
faxed jubilation of the press over Sec
retary Hughes's proposals we have no
sympathy, but we do sympathizo with
the masses of perfectly sincere people
OF all countries who likely are to be
duped by the promise OF a naval holi-
day"
The newspaper adds that II the causes
OF friction between tho nations are re-
moved and the great Powers cease seek
ing new concessions in oil corners of
the globe disarmament will happen
automatically. but that all talk about
disarmament Is impudent and danger
Gus until those things are done.
''It may conceivably be found that the
scheme is over bold" says the DotitJ
Telegraph, "but II holds UP such mag
nificent ideal that it will awaken greater
enthusiasm aaong those who passion
atoly long for the world 10 get its feet
well set upon the true path OF peace.
THE conference opened with noble
and dramatic stroke on the part OF
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes II Is not tho habit OF America
to do things by halves, and on this
occasion the United States has aston
ished and Impressed the world by her
audacity and by the grand sweep OF her
proposals.
The Telegraph thinks that no hurried
Judgment is possible on such tremendous
proposals, but believes that all the ma
tions concerned. including Jepen, Will
appreciate the courage which dictated
them.
However" II adds. "the naval ex.
perts of the three Powers will have tc
consider the scheme in all its bearings
and wo should not disguise from our.
selves that some may find IL very hard
! 20 bring themselves 20 consent 10 scrar
naval programmes 10 which they have
looked for the advancement OF their ma
tlonal ambitions. Very searching ques
tions will be addressed to those ir
charge OF the dcstinies Of Japan X they
re asked to be content with n perma'
nent naval strength OF 100000 tons. as
compared with the 100000 each OF Grea'
Britain and America
The Morning Post says: I'VE would
say at once that acceptance by England
OF such a proposal must In all good faitf
depend upon the measure OF agreement
eventually attained by the conference
We cannot doubt that America perfectly
| appreciates the unique geographical
| position and economic requirements o
| tho British Empire, which Involve th'
necessity of occurring very long lines o.
communication. irrespective of the neces
sity of possessing n main fighting fleet