Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-07
Hardi11g's Address

Of sovereignty. without impaired na-
tionality or offended national Fridc. a
solution has been found in unanimity
and todays adjournment is marked by
rejoicing in the things &C complained.
If the world has hungered for new
assurance 1t may feast II. tho banquet
which the conference has spI ;ac.
l am sure the people of ,..e lTntted
States are supremely gratified and yet
there is scant appreciation how mar
velously you have wrouen,. When the
days were drdgsing and agreements
were delayed. when there were OBJ
stacles within and hindranC IS without
few stopped to rCalize that here was 4
conference OF sovereign powers where
only unanimou1 agreement could he
made the rule Majorities could not
decide without impinSinS national
rights. There were no victorS to ON
nland. no vanqu.shed to yield. All mad
conscience of our civilization and give
concrete expression to world opinion.
And you have agreed in spite of all
difficulties and the agreements are
proclaimed to the world. No new
standards OF national honors have
been sought. but the indictments %
national dishonor have been drawn and
the world is ready to proclaim the
oGiousncss of perfidy or infa1nv.
1t is not pretended that the pursuit
of peace and the limitations of arma-
mcnt are new conceitS, or that the con-
ference is a new conception either in
settlement of war or In writing the
conscience OF international relation
ships. Indeed. it is not new to have
met in the realization of wars supreme
penalties The Hague conventions are
examples of the one, tho conference OF
Vienna, OF Berlin. Of Versailles, are
outstanding instances OF the other.
The Hague conventions were defeat
ed by the antagonism OF one strong
power whose indisposition to cooperate
and sustain led 1t to one of the supreme
tragedies which have come to national
ssninence. Vienna and Berlin sought
peace founded on the injustices Of war
and sowed the seeds OF future conflict.
and hatred was armed where conf
dencc was stifled.
1t Is fair to say that human prog
ress. the growing intimacy of interna-
tional rela ationship, developed commun-
ication and transportation attended by
a directing world opinion. have set the
stage more favorably here. You have
met in that calm deliberation and that
determined resolution which has made
Just peace, In righteous rela ationship.
Its own best guaranty.
1t has been the fortune of this con-
ference to sit in day far enough re-
moved from wars bitterness. yet near
enough to wars horrors. to gain the
benefit Of both the hatred of war and
the yearning for peace. Too often,
heretofore, the decades following such
gatherings have been marked by the
difficult undoing OF their decisions.
But your achievement - supreme be-
cause no seed of conflict has been
sown; no reaction in regret or resent
ment ever can Justify resort to arms.
1t little matters what we appraise as
hs ant af ND L. NJ
one OF them alone would have Justified
the conference. But tho whole achieve
ment has 70 cleared the atmosphere
that it will seem like breathing the
refreshing air OF \ new morn OF
promise.
You have written the first deliberate
and effective expression OF great pow
crs. in the CONSEQUENCES OF peace. OF
wars utter futAiity. and challenged the
sanity OF competitive preparation for
each others destruction. You have
halted folly and lifted burdens and
revealed to tho world that the ono sure
way TO recover from the sorrow and ruin
ana staggering obligations OF . world
war is to end tho strife in prcpara-
ton for more OF II, and turn human
energie, to tho constructiveness OF
peace.
Not all the world Is yet tranquil
izcd. Bait here Is the example. to i'm
bue with new hope. all who dwell in
apprehension. Al :A;A :able came un-
armed conflict as abominablo In tho
eyes OF enlightened civilizat1oa.
/ once believed in armed prepared
ness. I advocated IT. But have como
now TO believe there 10 better prepared
ness In a public mind and a world
opinion made ready 10 grant Justice
precisely as II exacts II. And Justice is
better served In conferences Of peace
than In conflicts at arms.
How simple It all has been. When
you met here twelve weeks ago there
was not a commitment, not an oblixA-
tion except that which each delegation
owes to the government commissioning
IL. But human service was calling.
world conscience was impclling and
world opinion directing.
No intrigue. no offensive or defensive
alliances. no involvemcnts have
wrought your agreements. but. reason
Ing with each other, common under
standing has made new relationships
among governments and people, new
securities for peacea nd new oppor-
tunities for achievement and attending
happiness.
Here ha, been established tho con-
facts of reason. here has como the
inevitable understanding of face TO
face exchanges when passion docs not
inflamc. The very atmosphere shamcd
national selfIshncss into retreat. View
points were exchanged. differences
composed. and you camo TO under
stand how common. after all are hui
man aspirations: how alike, indeed.
and how easily rcconcilsblc are our
national aspirations: how sane and
simple and satisfying to seek tho re-
lationships Of peace and security.
When you first met 1 told you OF
our Americas throught to seek less of
armament: aud mono OF war: that We
sought nothing which Is srother's. and
We wrce unfraid. but that we wished
TO join YOU in doing that finer and
nobior thing which no nation can do
alone. We rejoice in the accomplish
ment.
1t may be that the naval holiday hero
contracted will expire with the treaties,