Evening star., 1921-08-06
Editorial Digest
Can We Count on. Japanl

Out of the wide range or comment
on the coming disarmament confer
ence. discussion of Japan'a attitude
takes up most of the editorial space,
and on the whole there IL 9 tendency
the Importance of Japanese hesitation.
OF course. there is some bitter
criticism Of the Toxic governments
insistence upon narrowing the faeld
of discussion, but willingness to
understand the Japanese position is
revealed by many writer's.
Most Of the press Ia so anxious that
the purpose Of the conference be at
tanned that speculation on eventual
tiles that might arise in case 1t fails
are conspicuously absent, An excep-
tion may be noted, however, in the
Memphis news Scimitar Independently. }.
tSa.a Which rev reveals sd the point Of view Of
Of pacihsm" as "dangerous" and
vicious" 1t urges Continuance" Of
America'A naval program for,s 1t de-
clares. Japan holds the key to the
situation" and if Japan does not
come into the conference. no other
nation een afford to do So"
For the most part. however, the
newspapers agree that Japan will come
to the conference in any event, re-
gardless Of the outcome of the pre-
liminary discussion of the agenda.
Though she may enter reluctantly"
she will participate fully" the Pitts
nurgh Gazette-Times (republican) be-
lieves, Tor, as the Spokane Spokesman
Review independent republican, puts
IT, she could not with good face before
the rest of the world" refuse. Indeed.
she cannot afford to stay out" re-
marks, the Providence Journal (nds-
pendent.)
Hesitation on the part of Japan ia
explained by the New York Post un-
dependent). In the light Of her internal
conditions. where disarmament means
the inevitable transfer Of power" from
the aristocratic clans whose influence
ana prestige are connected with the
Japanese army and navy" to the "rising
groups OF industrial leaders and finan-
cters." In addition to this situation
at home the Columbia State demo
cratlc) sees as cause of the Japanese
unWfllingness Ito go blind into a con-
ference the fact that 1t would be
composed, without exception. of the
representatives of nations that are, for
one reason or another-justly or un-
justly does not matter at this juncture
-antipathetic to Japan"
The Houston Chronicle (independ-
ent) thinks 1T Is no wonder that
Japan is suspicious" for apparently
her h own peculiar sphere of operations
mas been singled out for considera-
tion" Quite the opposite view is
taken by the Kansas City Star (in-
dependent). which declares that
there are no Pacific questions of sole
concern to any particular power" and
anese view as regards Its own par
ticular concern there would be no
discussion at all and consequently no
hope of accommodation or an end to
the present competitive armament"
A more optimistic tone Is taken by
PlffGhnr0h ioIa oil nh,
Srepublican): which declares that
Japan need have no fear that the
washington meeting was designed
for her embarrassment, nor that
there is any intention on the part of
occidental nations to get her into a
questions will have an important
bearing upon the plans for ending
armament competition"
To face and frankly discuss what
bismarck called the ''som spots" that
are the real cause of the frenzied
rivalry in ornaments" is absolutely
essential In the opinion Of the Chi
cago Daily News Independently. While
agreement on Pacific problems would
simplify" the armament question. 1t
necessarily wreck the conference, not.
at least. il the comforting nations
sincerely wished to reduce armament
budgets and take whatever steps
might be possible toward interna-
tional peace and good will" The
Oklahoma City Oklahoman (demo-
cratic) agrees with this point Of view.
stating that while the main thing
that the world is interested in Is the
disarmament feature Of the confer
ence," nevertheless, before a satis-
factory agreement on the reduction
of ornaments can be made. there must
be an effort to solve the issues which
compel the nations to arm