Evening star., 1922-02-14
Conference Trial Balance.

We who are so close to the long,
dull and complicated proceedings" OF
the armament conference "are likely
to get blurred impression Of the
whole thing" the New York World
(democratic) thinks, unless we make
a special effort to see through the
details to the design" In fact, aside
from the battleship-scrapping pro-
gram, definite and concrete propo-
sition which can be understood" the
Charleston Is. c. News and Courier
(democratic) finds little more than a
blur" in the public mind regarding
which the conference leaves behind
it. So. while fully agreeing with the
Springfield Republican dndependent)
that "perhaps time is the only critic
whose verdict really matters" Ameri-
can editors nevertheless have endeav-
make the design clear and to ap-
praise Its value in relation to the I'M
mediate present.
AS succinctly listed by the st. Paul
News independently "the conference
has done these things:
war. Scrapped the Anglo-Japanese
alliance. Limited the size of the
worlds navies. stopped competition
in Pacific fortif1cations. Fixed the
status of the islands Of the PACING.
Made it possible for China to get on
her feet and for Siberia to nold her
own"
Sins of omission are pointed out by
some writer's: the Johnstown Demo-
crat (democratic), for one. notes that
mot one word has been spoken
against war ITSELF" and the Butte
toy n.
pointment that "the militaristic spirit
has not been eradicated." The Fort
Wayne Journal Gazette (democratic)
contends that Gin the final analysis IT
will be found that little has been ac-
complished in the interest OF man
dred dra millions Of dollars" on naval ar
mament, and the Lynchburg (Va.)
News (democratic) takes the same
position. But the New York Evening
World (democratic) finds, even IN tnat
limited outlook something TO re1oice
''the whole armament race on tne
result will be not only enormous
saving of money to the taxpayer. put
the suppression of one of the cniet
indictments to war
But the achievements Of the con-
ference, the New York Post inde-
pendent) declares. strongly out.
weigh its failuresf' There are. OF
course, varying estimates of the rela-
tive Importance of these achleve-
ments. To the Adrian .(bnch.) Tele-
gram Gndependent) "the first and
greatest" was heading, off that next
war" between the United States and
Japan, for "such a. war was due, &C;
cording to all the accepted signs.
The Baltimore News UndependenD
and a Canadian paper. the winnipeg
Tribune, give this point a similar
place in their appraisal. Not only
has there been an "allaying of sus-
picion and war talk between America
and Japan and the substitution there
for of a spirit of friendliness and CO.
operation" the Roanoke World-News
(democratic) puts it, but the Cincin-
natl Times-Star (republican) finds
that Americas whole attitude toward
Japan has changed, and "the Jap Is
no longer a willy stranger. We now
think we know him and we are quite
sure we like him."
The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press
(repub1ican), the Fort Wayne News
Sentinel (republican), the New York
Herald Independently and many others
imphasize the Importance, as the for
mer expresses it. Of "the overthrow
of the alliance between Britain ana
Japan" for, says the Herald. with
great English-speaking nations can
co-operate to the advantage of the
world in mutual confidence and good
feeling as they never could have Co:
operated with this treaty In force.
Turning to discussion of far eadf-
ern affairs, the Memphis Commercis1 Z
EAppeat tdsaeerat &c hslisyes not .
taS A&l 6esn ccot1I 1i1he4 6ty0A0