The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-11-10

WxUuluxVOus ~. ~, Nov. -.
American fnanciers and investors
as we'll as those OF other great
commercial and trading nations OF
the world are looking forward with
undisguised interest to the confer
ence to Be held in Warrington on
Dec. I among the ave Central Amer
ican repuhlica
This conference recently was
called by the secretary Of state to
discuss extension OF the doctrine Of
national disarmament and Of peace
ful international cooperation to
Central America. The five states Of
Guatemala, Costa RicA,~ Honduras,
Salvador and Nicaragua are those
to which invitations have been sent.
British Honduras is a British col
ony and the Republic of Panama
occupies . rather unusual position
under the adjacent influence Of the
American canal zone, and while
they have not been included in the
present invitation, it is expected
they will adhere to any general
reached.
The great importance of the con-
ference from the point of view of
American financial and commercial
interests is that it offers a promise
Of removing the greatest menace to
development Of trade in Central
America-politfcal instability. The
agenda of this conference will be
Of somewhat wider scope than that
Of the conference on the limitation
OF armaments held at Washington
among the great military and naval
powers last year. 1t is expected to
include some aspects of the eco
nomic question, which 4ecessarily
will be affected by any agreements
reached in respect of disarmament
and the establishment Of peaceful
relations.
Since o. Henry wrote "Cabbages
and Kings" and since Richard
Harding Davis and other writer's OF
the romantic school first published
their tales concerning Central
American countries. these states
have rested under a prejudice SO
far as trade, the great stabilizer,
is concerned. Capital is timid and
dislikes to venture into places
where it may be subjected to sud
den assault and destruction. mos
tromo,' Joseph Conrad's astound-
ing novel Of Latin America, re-
wolves principally about the invest
ments Of British and American
citizens. The story, recognized as
a faithful representation Of the life
in that part of the world, shows
what difficulties confronted devel-
opment by foreign capital. Indeed,
an entire boatload of silver is ac-
tually stolen. boat and all
A Comic Opera World.
With such tales as these repos-
ing in the minds Of American in
vestors they are not likely to rush
their dollars to Central America to
run these risks. The American
conception of Central America is
that of a comic opera world where
revolution is the central and recur-
ring plot. Events have justified
such an opinion as much as the
stories of the novelists. Only a
year ago, the government Of Carlos
Herrera, president of Guatemala,
who was elected by an overwhelm-
ing majority Of voters, was over
, thrown by a bandit general who
!; had just been let out of Jail. In
the most accepted comic opera
manner. he organized a band of
some so soldiers and brigands,
started a revolution, threw the law
full president and his cabinet into
Jail. executed many and took pos
session Of the reins of government
President Harding entertains the
hope of putting into effect during
his administration policy which
| will end such lawlessness and po-
litioAl disturbance. The confer
ence which has been called for
Dec is the first step in such an
accomplishment.
The president thinks that it is
time the whole of Latin America
was stabilized and developed. His
general plan for bringing this
about is. first. an agreement upor
disarmament which will deprive
the warning factions of supplies O.
arms and ammunition with which
to continue their dissensions. II
the December conference accom-.
plishes this it will be carrying the
theory of world disarmament full
stride further than the great con
ference Of last fall was able to go
1t will be establishing the impor
tant precedent of the disarmament
OF land forces. 1t will. be recalled
that the great conference of tn,
military powers was unable to un
dertake this important step be
cause OF the objection of France
based on her hesitancy to lay dowr