New Britain herald., 1922-02-02
ADOPTED

| The ilNe nations, the United States IGreat Britain, Japan, France and Ital,
 have adopted the treaty limiting tho
 size of naval armaments and for. bidding the use of poison gas in war.
 fare The United States, Great Britair and Japan have agreed to leave forti-
 hcations In the Pacific, outside oi homelands, as they are. China is tc
 receive the railroad in Shantung; the
 'open door" policy in China is to
 prevail, with a board of reference tc
 to sec that it does. Territory in the
 Pacific is to be respected conference
 is to be called when such territory is
 Threatened Japan has again promised
 to withdraw from Siberia when cond-
 tions warrant. The twenty one de-
 mands" forced from China are be- | lieved to have been made less effective | by the adoption of the "open door,
 policy and the establishment of the
 board of reference.
 These things seem to have been
 done. They have been done as Thoroughly, perhaps, as it was possible under the circumstances. Secretary of
 State Hughes calls the achievement of the naval treaty the greatest forward step in history toward the reign of peace"
 The words of the man who pre- sented the treaty-words spoken to
 strengthen belief that the treaty
 would be lived up to in spirit and in
 letter-are worthy of comment. "rhis treaty is an attempt to crystalline in simple and unmistakable terms the opinion. of civilization beyond diplomatists and beyond governments there rests the public opinion of the civilized world and the public opinion of the world can punish
 These are reported to have been Elihu Roots words. They tend to give hope, as'he intended they should But the phrases disclose, as possibly he did not intend they should, the weak ness as well as the strength of any of the agreements, of the treaties adopted by the conference.
 In the last analysis the value or worthlessness of the treaties lies not in the formal adoption of them by the representatives of the govern ments, not in the accompanying words or promises of delegates to the con- ference, but the value or worthless ness lies not only in how far public opinion in the various contracting countries will sustain the action of the delegates, but to what extent that public opinion will be shown in the acts of those countries in the future.
 MT. Root was right when he declar- ed that public opinion can punish. He to say public opinion can not be punished. Public opinion, trans formed into action, can enforce the | terms of treaties. But public opinion can also force disregard of treaties.
 The peace of the future rests, as indicated in these words of MT. Root, in public opinion. Diplomats and rep 'esentatives and even governments nay agree and disagree, promise peace or war. They may raise great trouble n the world, But whether eventually here shall be peace or war, adherence o or disregard of treaties, lies in the people.
 Men having made the formal ar for peace, the next drive # those who wish those agreements in spirit as well as in letter. hould be directed at public opinion to ,eep it as the one great bulwark as- tuning the continuance of peace.
 The pact on reduction of armaments oday Is nothing moro nor less than earch for an ideal, it may be readily wed up to should public sentiment I the various nations so decide, it nay be readily broken by the aggres- i've action Of any single signatory na- on which would again precipitate 1c world into an organization of armament builders. The League of Nations was decried be- use it was idcalistic and incapable realization. It placed too much ress on the honor of nations. it was
 breeder of more war. But, the five ower pact is just as idealistic, it has le potentialties of the League as a 'eeder of wars. Lack Of integrity, lack
 ,openness in any quarter will i'm ediately result in that which we wish
 avoid.
 Anyone fayoring the league which \