Evening star., 1922-02-05

Saturday, the 18th Of November, what
their view Of disarmament was. all
the rest Of our labors would have lost
half, and I think much more than
half. the value that they now possess.
No Less Security.
Let no one think that this aban-
donment Of rivalry in shipbuilding.
this diminution of fleets. this scrap
ping of great weapons Of war. carries
with 1t anything in the nature of a
diminution OF security on the part OF
any nation. ! do not think we need
have feared that, no matter what sup
Elementary arrangements had been
enough to make a supplementary ar
rangement that puts the question be-
yond doubt or cavil.
Can anything be more happy? Can
anything be more pregnant OF good
results for the future of the world?
Can anything more surely allay those
suspicious which make peace intoler-
able and war probable?
All Have Contributed.
ITO this great consummation all
have contributed; but in particular /
cannot insist too repeatedly or with
greater earnestness that it was the in
spired moment of November IL on
which all the greatness of this great
transaction really depends.
more. II it is difficult to exaggerate
the magnitude of the work that has
been accomplished, let me assure you
that probably nobody except those
who have had intimate personal ac-
quaintance with such matters know
what difficult machinery an interna-
tional conference inevitably is. Its
difficulties are inevitable for this
simple reason. that a conference does
not work by majorities. One recalci-
trant power can stop the whole ma
chine. If one power refuses its assent.
the best laid devices for securing the
felicity of mankind are brought to
naught. Cnanimity is obligatory; and
when We remember that there are
nine powers concerned in one set of
treaties. and no less than fve powers
concerned in another. and that each
OF them. from the nature of the case.
approaches every separate question
from the angle of it's own country,
looks at it first from the point of
view of it's own national interests,
and secondarily sees that the interests
OF every country here are really
bound up with the interests of the
Whole-when you remember that this
IS the method under which we work,
think you will agree with me that
we could never have attained the re-
SUITS we have, If the statesmen col
lected around this table had not
SHOWN themselves sympathetic, cIear
o! comprehension, unself1sh in their
views, and anxious above all to see
that We should work by common
end.
N. sArraut's Statement.
Mr. Sarraut. for the French:
II IS no longer q time for words.
sspec,ally ss1sy after the eloquent speech
doyen. Mr.. Balfour, when he made
nus admirable synthesis of the work
we nave been able to accomplish in
this conference.
our work is now concluded, and
at the moment that our work lis now
neing concluded We are warned that
IL Is now our duty to leave the scene.
because others are now coming in
whose part and duty it is to judge
us. We cannot rightly, perhaps,
appreciate our work in full impar-
taiity and Independence. because it
IS Zoo near, and we lack the neces-
sary perspective. We cannot really
40 It Others will be better able
to do it. But. gentlemen, we can
and that is something-do Justice to
ourselves in our common 'endeayor;
we can state and recognize the good
VIII that has been shown on every
side We know that. We know that
behind us and above US here is a
supreme authority which is rising to
Ihe nations which have delegated
US to come here are going to study
our task and to judge it, in the yari-
Gus forms prescribed by the methods
IN operation in the various coun-
tries. They will say whether or
not they are going to validate and
confirm our facts. This is the NOV
y4h ioh 1f
trating to the bottom of his in
nermost conscience, will await tie
hnal verdict of his country, will ask
himself whether he did what he ought
to have done and whether he rightly
served the cause for which he had
come here.
Heart Full Of Confidence.
Il am deeply. sincerely convinced
tfat each Of US will be able to return
to his country with his heart full
of confidence, with his head erect
and with an easy mind to face the
great conclave of public opinion in
his country. which is to judge our
common work. 1 believe that every
body here can go and face the opin-
ion of the whole world, of the court
of the universe, and put before them
ardent hopes for better future
for mankind. 1t is for mankind in
general that we have worked. 1t
is to mankind that we now offer
the tribute of our labors and our
pains, the sineerest, the crowning
effort of our iabors as a guarantee
of peace for the world and Of a better
future for humanity.
Gentlemen, when the list is drawn
up, when the inventory is being taken
of what we have done here, 1 am sure
that no sordid thought will enter the
mind Of any of US to estimate what
he may have gained on the one side
or what he may have lost on the other.
No one of US will want to measure
his advantages by those that may
have been gained by his neighbor,
and the same may be said Of the sac
rifices which have been made by us
all. Nothing would be more contrary
to the spirit of the conference, be-
cause here we have never lost sight
Of this altruistic. leading idea, of the
establishment OF the final peace of
that that must be sought for through
the suppression Of general causes.
Example Great aad Noble.
the admirable effort that has been
made by the conference. the day after,
one might say, the terrible catastro-
phe which devastated the whole world
the admirable effort to drive out
any causes Of conflict by diminishing
the causes, and also by decreasing
the weapons which might still re-
main and which might be a tempta-
tion to resort to force. What is great
and noble here is the example which
has been set by the great countries
here represented to other countries.
and when these treaties are signed
they will be an example to other
countries to settle their differences
and disputes amicably. in an amica Bile
spirit. and not to drain their resources
in order to arm. but to seek else
where for the expenditure Of the
fruits of their prosperity.