Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-15
AN AysP1c1ous N

. Those vino expected the early sessions OF the
armament conference to be devoted entirely to
tormalities have been undeceiyed. No one appears
to have anticipated the very remarkable turn which
the proposal made by Secretary Hughes gave to the
conference right at the outset. 1t had been under
stood that the American delegation had a proposal
in fairly definite shape eadv't present to the con-
ference. Its presentation at the opening session was
rot anticipated. and its sweeping character has fairs
~ taken the world off it's feet. Through it's dele.
gates at the conference the United States proposes
to join with Great Britain and Japan in the deliber-
ate destruction of first class naval vessels of a total
tonnage sufficient alone to make up a very import
ant part of one of the worlds largest navies. The
tonnage which it has proposed to destroy amounts
to over 1,sO0, 900 tons, and this, not in inadequate
and obsolete vessels, but in first class fighting ships
OF the line, and some of which have only recently
been completed, others of which are. now actually
in the process OF construction. No such proposal
has been made seriously by one nation to other ma
tons since naval armament began. Practically the
only other serious proposal of this nature made in /
formal manner was made only a short time before
the opening Of the Great War when Winston
Churchill, then secretary of the British admiralty
which constructions should be discontinued. The
making of this offer is now a matter of history, as is
its summary rejection by the German government.
That offer contemplated no destruction of vessels
actually completed The present proposal goes
right to the root of the matter and provides not oniy
tor the discontinuance of construction, except in
certain restricted ways, but for the actual s%crapping
Of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of ships
which are now afloat or on the ways. The recep-
ton gwen to the American proposals is exceeding"
ly favorable. Naturally the delegates representing
the other nations are reticent concerning its details,
but wherever there has been an expression of opin.
ion, that opinion has been of admiration and ap-
probation of the frank manner in which the Ameri-
can government has approached this most stipend
Gus of all present international problems.
The making of this offer constitutes a most
suspicious opening for the conference on limitation
of >armaments Without any violation. Of the tech.
%nlcai1tles it makes it possible to describe the confer.
ence as actually one for disarmament because it is
disarmament in a very large measure which is now
seriously and earnestly proposed. The scope OF
the proposal goes far beyond what had been antic-
lpated anywhere. 1t may go father than can be
realized at this time, Let it be hoped that it does
not. because in the removal of every great fighting
crs. which can be removed without placing any
particular nation at a disadvantage with it's neigh.
hors, lies the prospect, not only for the preserva.
ton Of the peace of the world, but for progressive
disarmament on an even more magnificent scale
than is now under consideration. If this propose
or anything like it is accepted, and the restrictions
provided are observed faithfully, the world will
presently begin to inquire why, if the destruction o.
so many ships at this time has been 50 beneficial
ut would not be even more beneficial to proceed
still farther along that line and to remove still
more of the burden of rrnainent costs and the pos
lsible proyocation to war.
The American government has won the an.
proval OF its people and the admiration of the world
for the frank and earnest manner in which it has
approached this problem.