The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-29

canrto washington there was an
ustnstakabIs feeling to. be. detect
eSsevsn In the statements Of the
mat. ,reserved. a notion that the
WKshtngton conference had been
caafed with an idea OF finding q
s1bstttute FOR the league Of nations,
Substitute which would be power
kp1lSc launched since IL would have
the -hacking Of the United states.
fAass abesnee from the league OF
astops had been generally re-
kttntd. --'' --. -. 80. .--
Every one remembers that in the
hrst days Of the Washington con-
nations" were on All lips. The
scaetnent was made again and
s4ftH; IL was made even by the
|hfkhsst American authorities. that
6HTN q, was actually in existence in
Warrington an association Of ma
tioh4 and attention was called TO
tkgfact that without any elaborate
kcSy1nts or intricate machinery
representatives OF nine nations had
bsea-brought together to do some
thing which corresponded to many
Of the'tasks Of that body which was
EsSyd by the Paris conference.
sSteover, IL was realized in ad-
Sssfs- that IL the Washington con-
fsrenee couid deal with the ques-
rfofe of the limitation of land and
ss{e.armaments, could resolve the
pr6hlems of the Pacific and estab-
pish 4 system OF peace on the main
land ef Asia, the prestige of the
American. gathering would be enor-
1ssss5ss ss.iss gs
= Esahs vashe "a soih:.
[s ffsas sff,m;flsaI, nov -
pes 6n6 tfds hfht upoG tp1f w6fk
pr the Washington conference, Il
becomes clear that neither the aues-
fion Of the limitation OF land OF sea
arm ments, or or weapons-of-w war,
nor OF regulations OF combat will
be settled, save only as perhaps
rhe agreement already reached a.
10 capital ships and accepted by
the fye sea powers here represented
may stand
For the rest, the regulation Of
he submarine, Of the aeropiane,
the effective restriction of the use
pr poison gas, all these are matters
which remain to come before that
Committee of the league of nations
which is engaged upon the task of
invest eating the whole feid Of
ornaments and conduct in peace
md In war. To put the thing SIM
ply, there Is not the smallest sug-
yestion now that the Washington
conference will prove a self-per-
betuating body or that the confer
knce idea as contrasted with that
4 the permanent Geneva assem-
kiags has taken root and will gain
confidence.
League still Pre-eminent.
The American people will have
make up their minds to the fact
hat in spite of the Washington
pnference or on account of 1t the
European nations which have been
REPRESENTED here and the European
ations which were not represented
ave not been shaken in their ad-
erence to the Geneva organization
nd that the French, the Dutch
pd not impossibly even the Eng
sh have seen in the circumstances
the Washington conference rea,
pms for having increased rather
and for the league of nations.
Certainly the Washington expert
tent might have proved a danger
Us, peril to the Geneva undertake
be. Success. that unlimited sue
ess which at least to American
yes seemed to be promised on the
rst days, would have done much
prove the accuracy of the sever
BtN'of American criticisms of Mr..
Visions conception Everyone re-
embers that in the early hours of
he Washington conference COM
Rrtsons between Washington and
eneva were found at every turn,
Emphasized in all directions. There
as q moment when even the Presi-
ertb Of the United States himself,
ID by the initial promise of the
ashington gathering. seemed to
breast the speedy transformation
This gathering into an actual as
bclation OF nations. and American
embership in such an association
Toused applause and hope in Eu-
Pc
Early Promise UnfuInIled.
But after the early prosperous
lys, the way of the Washington
inference has closely paralleled
at Of the Paris council. Al
ogsh We were ostensibly dealing
18th problems OF the Pacific, the
ladow Of European disagreements
gdeverhung US and differences Of
pfnion between France and Great
ritain have served to produce and
promote the same discord which
arscterized the conference of
MS. Mr.. Hughes. for the United
ates, has been compelled to rec
Inize, to accept and to bow to
nropean conditions in precisely
le same fashion as Mr.. Wilson.
he fact has been disclosed that
be main obstacle to International
aksociation Of any sort Is found In
world conditions rather than In the
Freakness Of the league Of nations
pf Mr.. WILSON.
Ia graphing with the Pacific
problem Mr.. Hughes has been
forced to make concessions and
ompromises each Of which sug-
ests a Paris experience. That
sur-power alliance which was the
krst definite product of the wash
ngton gathering recalled very
strongly much that was written
nto the league of nations and the
ery suggestion of Resemblance Ia,
ropsed opposition precisely In the
places from which opposition came
10 Mr.. wilson's league The effort
10 make a peace OF justice for
flna in conformity with Mr.. Roots
our principles has proven not less
ifacult than the undertaking to
ecppstruct the map of Europe In
eceedapce withsMr. Wilson's four,
zen points. At times II has seemed