Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-01
EPocHAL ACCOMPLISHMENT
CROWNS ARMS CONFERENCE

Constructive Adjustment Of an Array Of
! Momentous International Problems
Removes All Doubt Of Its Success
| THE Washington Conference, now fast
- drawing TO Il close. has been brilliant
| and extraordinary success. The note of
| optimism is not strained in this appraisal
| which is supported by an array Of h"artcn-
! ing and substantial accomplishments which
! Il behouvcs an anxious and somewhat wary
! public TO recognize.
! Tho deliberations in the capital have not
! transformed human nature or inausuratct
! an era of sweetness and light commensurate
! with the dreams OF extreme idcalisis. The
| meeting was not called TO work miracles.
| Its participants have not posed as NEGRO.
mancors. Their actions have revealed the
representatives Of nine nations as practical
statesmen engaged in the solution Of prac-
tiCal problems which were none the less
d.ftcui because Of actually.
In the main, controversies Of the first
alagnitndr. which have cloudr'! the path of
progress and inpcriicd the stability "i
civilization, have been adjusted. Tho open
session Of 'hc Conference in Washington
today--thc first since December l0--marks
IN sense the beginning of the last act of an
imposing International drama. Loose ends
of detail remain TO hc assembled. bu. dis
position has been made Of virtually all tho
ma or issues.
Twelve weeks. the duration Of tho con-
clave thus far, is not an abnormally long
period for the transaction Of momcntous
business. The public is. of course, invaria-
bly, an impatient audience. It's capacity for
drar atizing its ambitious and then setting
impossible standards OF achievement is no.
torious. Mr.. Hughes unQucstionably whettcd
this appetite with his prompt and explicit
program Of naval disarmament. admirable
though this was
But il the light Of retrospect be permitted
TO- shine. all reasonable minds may derive
stimulation from the dovctailing Of aSpira.
tons with performance. Conspicuous fac
tors Of friction with Japan have been re-
moved. The Anglo japanese Treaty has been
delivered TO the scrap heap. 4 basis Of co..
operative development and protection has
been established in the Pacific. For the first
time in histor. five great nations have VOL
unfairly resolved TO reduce and restrict
their navcs. New standards OF policy. bull
warked by reawakcnrI spirit Of fair play.
have been established regarding China.
Adult Americans will not sacrifice their
self respect or their alleged reverence for
the principles of common sense by applaud
ing the summation Of well directed energies.
Even the Senate. If it is capable of bushing.
may perhaps be embarrassed by the passing
Of its favoritc goblin. the ShantunS dispute.
1t has been fashionable to regard this
question as a mares 's-ncst The Treaty Of
Versailles left il unsettled and it was gen
orally viewed u a topic of alarming dclicacy.
Encouraged by suggest ions from President
Harding and Arthur Balfour. the foremost
principals in the controversy. China and
Japan. have evolved compromise which re-
stores sovereign rights IN the peninsula t.
the former nation and original posscssor.
This categorically means the japanese cvac.
uaton of Kiao -Chau. The railway agree
ment is compromise. providing for pay
mcnt for the line in Chinese treasury notes
running fifteen years. with the option Of
complete redemption at tho expiration ot
five years. For the same period the traffic
manager will Uc Chinese. w.th Il japanese
assistant.
While III" r"nUnciatiou Of the claims OF
the Toxic Government IS thus somewhat
qualified, the situation scarcely resembles
that mpassc OF 1919 in which possession.
of Kiao. .Chau was deemed by its occupants
to be japanese fruit OF the World War
Tho naval reduction treaty. held VI for
several weeks by discussion respecting for.i-
hcation rights. has been clarified by dctini-
lions nf th" highest historic importance. No
restrictions are placed on strengthening Of
coast detens"S in Japan proper" New
Zealand Australia and adjacent territories.
including New Guinea nor on the mainland
Of rho United States. Ata>ha. Hawaii and
III" Panama Canal Zone. TIL" status quo
is to be preserved in h" Philippines, Samoa,
H;nam. Honskong and. with thc aburc cx-
ccptions. British !nsular possessions east
OF 10 degrees east longit'Ide. in Formosa,
tho Bonins, II few other groups of Japanese
islands and IN the Kur!le group lying be.
tween SagAaIicn and kamchatka.
This las exemption is noteworthy in .ts
relation 70 al agreement that 'hr United
States will not iortiFy the .tout!au Islands.
| stretching from Alaska almost 10 the main
! land Of Asa This chain Is a comparatively
| near ne!ghbor Of tho KUrirs. The siiuutiun
! comfortably suggests that prevailing on the
| Canadian frontier, where the ban on fort
! frat!ons Eas proved ono of the most 70.
! assuring safeguards Of peace. r"do1ndiuc
! 10 the credit Of Eritan's largest dominion
| and 'hc worlds foremost republic
Settlement Of the Msulur projection prob
lem should clCa. the way for correct under.
| standing Of rho Four Power Treaty, plcdgu:
the United States. ,ir"ar Britain. .Iupun
! aud Frnncc to submit all future pac!n dis
putes 10 arb!tration II would be absurd 70
deny that this par', Which Stp"rse'ir, the
| Anglo japanese Treaty. IS not authentic