Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-09
The Momentous Achievement
of the Arms Conference
1HE Arms Conference has ADJOURNED
with a record of achievement and in


with a record of achievement and in
fuence richer than the most san
guine of it's promoters probably expected
Called for the prime purpose of working out
some agreement among the leading naval
powers whereby the burden and peril OF vast
battle fleets might be reduced, it has accom-
plished this to a surprising degree, and at
the same time has brought to pass other in
ternational understandings of high moment
to civilization and humanity.
Under the naval limitation treaty the
United States Great Britain, Japan, France
and Italy agree not only to scrap an i'm
mense amount of death-dealing machinery,
but also to limit future construction to a
maximum tonnage and to certain ratio. The
latter provision is exceedingly important. II
the foremost powers find it safe and conslt-
ent with their rightful interests to maintain
a first-line naval strength in the proportion
of i We hundred and twenty-five thousand
tons each for America and Britain, three
hundred and fl fteen thousand tons for Japan.
anu one hundred and seventy-five thousand
tons for France and Italy, there is no good
reason why eventually they should not carry
armament reduction still further upon this
same ratio; for if all reduce, none will be
disadvantaged in so far defensive needs
are concerned. BY this treaty alone, with its
far-reaching principle and its power for
peace, the Conference has earned a shining
place in history
Hardly less notable is the pact by which the
United States, Great Britain, Japan and
France covenant together to respec. one an
others rights as touching their insular pos
sessions in the Pacific and to take common
counsel whenever those rights are menaced.
From the American standpoint this treaty is
of peculiar worth in that it abrogates and
supersedes the Anglo-Japanese alliance. More
than that, however, it should serve as a new
and mighty anchor for peace in the Orient
because il these leading nations deal justly
with one another and in respect for the rights
of all, they not then be false to any.
Especially is this true in light of the gen.
eral Far Eastern treaty under which all these
nations, along with Italy, Belgium, Portugal
and Holland, pledge themselves to respect
Ch1na's integrity, to accord the Chinese peo-
plo full opportunity to develop stable gov
eminent, and to maintain in thoroughgoin
good faith the policy of the Open Door. cit
is agreed" runs the gist of the engagement
that no treaty infringing these principles is
to be concluded, that contracts violating
them are to be upheld, that discriminatory
practices in the Chinese railways shall cease,
and that in the event of future wars China s
rights as neutral shall be respected" Sup
plementing all this is the Chinese tariff
treaty, supported by the, same nine nations
and the particularly welcome Shantung
treaty by which control of that long-con-
tested region is restored by Japan to China.
Able students of world problems have en-
phas1zed from the beginning of the Confer
ence that no matter what other peace-con-
serving covenants might be made interna-
tlonal relations would be extremely liable if
not actually doomed to disruption unless a
Talr deal were vouchsafed to. China and to the
great common interests in that quarter
Hopes to that end were far from bright in
the earlier stages of the counseling and
even now careful study will be required to
determine just how substantial the results
are 1t is apparent, however, that at least
enough has been accomplished to relieve the
md TO o1a
the way for further action in the same lib
eral spirit.
All in ALL the Conference is magnificent
success, justifying President Hardings words
to its delegates: You have halted folly and
lifted burdens, and revealed to the world
that the way to recover from the
sorrow and ruin and staggering obligations
of a world war is to end the strife in prep
aration for more of it, and turn human ener-
gies to the constructiveness of peace. 1t may
be that the naval holiday here contracted will
expire with the treaties, but l do not believe
it, Those of us who live another decade are
more likely to witness growth of public
opinion, strengthened by the new experience
which will make nations more concerned
with living to the fulfilment of Gods high
intent than with agencies of warfare anC
destruction. Since this conference of nations
has pointed with unanimity to the way OF
peace today, like conferences in the future
under appropriate conditions and with aims
both well conceived and definite, may il
lumine the highways and by-ways of human
activity. The torches of understanding have
been lighted, and they ought to glow and en-
circle the globe"
1t is in this growth OF public opinion,
the dynamic power behind the Washington
Conference, that the purposes and ideals O
that enterprise and of all akin to it will fine
their mightest human support. Traditional
diplomacy anything but eager for thi
sort of conference; indeed, traditional diplOm
acY was positively against it: and but To-
the insistence of enlightened public opinion
in this and other countries the conference
probably would never have been called ant
certainly would not have richly tt
fruitcn This same power of the people
mind and conscience must now be mustered
for the ratification of the treaties in tn
United States Senate and other parlamentar.
bodies to which they are to be submitted
Something of the reactionary impulse tina
was arrayed against the Covenant of tn
Lea of Nations will rise nlaNhan againS