Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

* Secretary Hughes Is expected.
when the arms and far eastern
conference comes to close. to
make a general recapituiation OF the
accomplishments Of the epochal world
meeting, which on the basis OF the
achievements already effected and 9TH
ers being rounded out will present
gratifying record. The public has
noted from day to day the closing up
Of various chapters on the divers
subjects considered without appre-
ciatins its full value. perhaps, but
only upon their being presented In
aggregate form will their stupendous
value to the worlds peace and pros
perity be realized.
With this record set forth in sue
cinct form. no one will be justified in
charging that the conference has
failed of success.
All the delegations present now
realize this fact, and the great states
men who have already departed are
telling Europe the good news. By
the time they are Joined by the dele
gates now remaining there will be bet
ter news to relate.
The head of the British delegation,
commenting unofficially the other day
on the conference. classed it as one
of the greatest international gath
erings in the worlds history. in re-
spect to the scope and benefit OF Its
accomplishments. He was especially
impressed by the consideration that 1t
has established the conference habit
and set a precedent for the world In
the future to dispose of its difficulties
without resorting to war.
This is also the view of President
Harding and Secretary Hughes as
we'll as the leaders of other delega-
tons.
the temerity now to deny that a dis
tinct Limitation in naval armament
has been effected The ending OF the
rivalry in capital ship building, If
nothing else were done, could be
hailed by the world as practical
economical measure of stupendous
nroportions. But that is not all. The
limitation of naval auxiliaries, though
not as extensive as might be. will De
appreciated by the world as time goes
on. The limit put upon the size or
ships to carry arrplanes removes a
menace which, if left unchecked.
threatened to terrify the world. The
restriction upon submarine activi-
ties is in the interest of humanity
and commerce.
y X +
When all the plans proposed Tor
china's benefit are realized, source
of ever-threatening trouble in Asia
and among the nations interested
there will have been damned up.
The conference has, with patience and
great good will, worked assiduously to
cure many of China's ailments. not
only for China's sake, but because
they threatened to infect the peace
OF the world.
China is considered as having re-
ceived tangible benefits from the con-
ference, although China will consider
them in the nature of half loaf In
all probability, and disposed. perhaps,
TO think that she Is being treated
more like an invalid than sovereign
nation, in having them bestowed upon
her.
The trouble with China's pride Of
sovereignty is that she has not estab-
lished her government yet. and until
that is done the powers are inclined
to feel that she cannot be too in
sistent upon sovereignty.
Senator Underwood. in the meeting
of the far eastern committee last
week, put the situation in these
words, quoting from the record:
"I am sure there was no desire on
the part of the other powers to be
selfish, or not to recognize the full
sovereignty Of China, and I only rose
to say this, that if 1 am q judge of
the situation. a judge of the temper
of conditions in the balance of the
world, 1 feel sure that when China
herself establishes preliminary gov
eminent of all the provinces Of China
and dispenses with the military con-
troll that now exists In many Of the
provinces Of China 30 that the out
side powers may feel they are deal
ing with a government that has en-
tire and absolute and free control of
the situation, China can expect to
realize the great ideals of sovereignty
that she asks for at this table"
+ = \
The spirit Of the conference is said
to be that China should regard her
self as fortunate. in this time Of tran