Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-11
Arms Limitation Threatened

THERE is grave reason to fear that tho
opposition TO the four-power Pacific
treaty is developing strength at rate that
threatens its defeat. Democratic Senators
who supported the league OF nations plan
Tor world peace are lining up with "irrecon-
cllablc' Senators in both parties who stood
out so bitterly against that plan In deter
mined effort to deal similar deathblow
to the new pact. The accession of this new
group to the "irreconciiables" has not the
merit OF consistency that characterizes the
attitude OF the latter. In opposing the new
pact those "irreconclable" Senators are
consistent in refusing to consent to any kind
of treaty which involves this country in any
Kind OF political agreement which entangies
us with the AFFAIRS OF other nations Con-
fcssedly, the present treaty imposes on the
United States far fewer and less binding OBJ
legations than those supported by the
group who favored the league OF nations
inducements. III opposing the new pact
they have completely reversed their former
position. They would destroy the whole
work OF the Washington conference for il
the four-power pact is defeated the treaty
providing for limitation of armament will
necessarily have to go into the sCrap heap,
too.
The country was practically unanimous
for the limitation OF armament. When
this program was submitted to the confer
ence by Secretary Hughes II was universally
acclaimed by the American people, as well
MS by the peace-l0ving peoples of all other
countries. But that treaty Is bottOmed on
peace in the Pacific, and the Horsepower
treaty is necessary to the main cnance OF
peace In the Pacific. When the Senate
adopted a resolution requesting the Presi-
dent to call n conference of tho governments
OF ITnit ad
States for the purpose OF considering and
agreeing upon joint program OF dsarma-
mcnt, the President and his Cabinet advis-
crs, after survey Of the world situation,
wisely decided that tho United States could
rot with prudence undertake the limitation
OF armament on its own account until the
menace, however remote. OF trouble in the
Pacific was removed.
True, the limitation program was pre-
scnted at the opening OF the conference,
but II will be remembered that nothing def
mite was done with 1t until the four-power
treaty was completed. tho first Of the group
TO be agreed upon. The impelling purpose
OF that treaty was the abrogation OF the
Anglo-Japanese alliance So long rs that
alliance existed. the United States was
bound to consider the possibility Of war
with Japan that would bring Great Britain
to the assistance OF Japan. 1t was bound
in the light of this possibility to consider
the necessity OF naval strength to cope with
such an emergency. The abrogation OF this
alliance was not men tioned In the agenda for
the conference. hut quietly and effectively
the abrogaton was arranged for by the
creation OF this treaty, which substitutes
four power association for peace for two
power alliance for war. toward which the
United States was steadily verging. Since
the four-power treaty ia the keystone OF the
peace structure It's defeat would unQues-
tionably mean the collapse OF the whole
splendid structure OF peace erected by the
conference. 1t would mean tho resumption
of naval building activity by all the nations
concerned in tho treaty, and bitter disap-
pointmcnt OF the. hopes not only of the tax
hurdened people OF America, but OF those
OF the other nations as we'll.