Evening star., 1921-07-17
WORLD. MAY REGAIN
FAITH IN u. S. IDEALS
President Hardine's Action on Disarma-
ment Sure to Rebound to Interest
of Nation in Foreign Lands.


ested arbiter. participated In dsiiber-
atoms. When European nations were
teft to their own efforts naturally
national veal was first considered.
tdeepenedr in interchanges. political and
otherwise, that have gone on between
the various countries. Animosities
have arisen. evOn among the allies.
which may be long in disappearing.
,, One crisis after another has arisen
simply because there was no disin-
terested, unselfish voice in the confer
ences of statesmen. America remained
aloo-.
EurOpe's Salvation Seen.
But in President Hardings step is
seen Europe's salvation. Even were
the question of curtailment of arma-
ment not to be the leading issue and
were the conference of world states
men to be conducted On lines not
promising the world immediate relief
from the burdens placed upon the
shoulders of the people. there un-
doubtedly would be rejoicing among
the peoples at large. for the reason
period of waiting. America Is once
more to make her influence felt. In
asmuch as this influence may be ex-
pected to follow the channels OF right
and Justice. 1t is but natural that
once more there should spring up in
age old hope that even yet some
means may be found whereby the
iniquities of the past never may oe
repeated and there may be brought
in an era of complete world concord.
As Secretary Hoover says-he who
has felt the very heart-beats of the
old world for SO many. years the
strength of the woof in Americas
commercial fabric depends upon a
going Europe. In view OF TINS. theIe
Is greater belief that there Will oe
agreements effected that Will continue
to keep America in the forefront.
Must be Commitments.
commitments Is much-hated
word in the ears of Americans. But
nevertheless. If the disarmament con-
ference Is success. there will be
commitments. but possibly not so far
reaching in character as those of the
Paris conference. II there are none
nothing will have been gained in the
conferences to come.
Tha~" VIII he commitments IN the
question OF disarmament There un-'
doubtedly will be effected binding
understandings as to other world prob
lens. not the least of these bring tao
it agreements affecting the far east
and the Pacific. in which Great
be chiefly interested. There Is every
reason to suppose. and 1t Is SO ex-
pected in Europe. that there Will be
reached such UNDERSTANDINGS between
Great. Britain; japan and the Uged
Japan bugaboo. which has so muddled
the dreams OF the jingoists. will be
dissipated and the Anelo-Japonese
treaty will he found to he useless
document. Both Great Britain and
Japan undoubtedly will take the lead
in furtherance of these agreements
with the hope of winning the United
States to their viewpoint. Neither OF
these countries wishes war with this
country and either will go to great
lengths to prevent any strife leading
to this end And il the United States
consents to enter into some commit
ment or agreeroent on this issue. then
1T may be expected that the whole
embarra ssing question VIII be brought
to an end.
Mny Press for Alliance.
While the whole subject of d,sar-
mament is foremost. with France al
ready committed to support the Unit
ed States in its general policy. look
ing toward the recovery of the
worlds economic and financial
equilibrium through the elimination
may be expected to take advantage
of the situation to press for the old
Anglo lo-Franco-American alliance.
which was agreed upon in Paris by
President Wilson and THESE two ma
tions France today does not specu-
late. il is said, on whether there Is
to be another war with Germany.
hut as to how soon it will come.
France will object to material re-
duction Of her armies which possi-
bIy will he insisted upon by England.
who probably would not consent to
curtail her fleet. her chief medium OF
defense II France did not curtaif
her main military strength. the land
force: and in the jockeying that Is
sure to come France may insist upon
guarantees against possible enemy
aggression. In view of past antas-
onisms to this alliance in America
there is question as to whether
France will succeed. but there is
every reason to suspect that the
whole question will be opened up.
1t Is kot to he supposed that the
multitudinous little questions Raner
ally confronting the world will not
he the subject of informal. II not
formal. consideration once the will
ineness of the Harding administra-
tion to enter into general consider
alton of world affairs is evidenced.
"a nd 1t may be safely said that in
this willingness will rest much Of
the good will of the world toward
America. Without this good will
there arr few guarantees that the
United Estates economic and indus
trial revival will approach the ends
desired by the government and
people as well.