, 1922-02-06

velousiy you have When the
days were draSging and agreements
were delayed, when there were OBJ
stacies within and h~indrances without
Few stopped fc realize that mere was
a conference OF sovereign powers which
when only unanimous could make the
rule. Najorities could not decide
without tmpugning national rights
There were no victors to command.
no vanquished TO yield All had vol
unfairly to agree in transiatins the
conscience Of our civilization and give
concrete expression TO world opinion
And you have agreed in spite OF
an difficulties and the agreements are
proclaimed to the world. NJ new
Of national honors have been
sought. but the indictments OF national
dishouor have been drawn. and tn
world is ready to proclaim the obious
ness OF perfidy or infarny.
1T is not pretended that the pursuit
OF peace and the limitations OF arma-
ment are new cosceits. or thai the
conference is a now conception either
in settlement OF war or in writing the
conscience Of international relation
-i.ip. Indeed. II IS not new to ave met
IN the realization OF wars supreme
penaltiea The Hague conventions are
examples of the one. the conference
of vienna of Berlin. OF Versailles. are
outstanding instances OF the other.
The Hague conventions were de-
feated by the R-ntasonism OF one
strong power whose indisposition to
cooperate and sustain led 1t to Of
The supreme tragedies which have
rome to national eminence, Vienna and
Berlin sought peace founded on b
intustices Of war and sowed the seeds
of future conflict. and hatred was
armed where confidence was stifled
1T Is fair to say that human pro
Eress. the growing Intimacy OF inter
national relationship, developed com
munication and transportation attend
ed by q directing world opinion. have
set the stage more f~avorably hero.
You have met in that calm deiibern'
ton and tina determined resolution
which have made a just peace. IN
dighteous relationship, its W best
guaranty.
1T has been the fortune OF this con
fereace to sit In a day far enough re
moved from wnr's bitterness. yet near
enough to vars hon rods. to gain the
benefit OF 10th the hatred Of war and
the y~earuing for peace. Too often
heretofore, the decades following such
gatherings have been marked by h
difficult undoing OF their decisions
But your achievement is hupreme be-
cause no seed Of conflict has been
,own no reaction in regret or resent
ment ever can Justify resort TO arms.
ut little matters what we appraise
as the outstanding accomplishment.
ANY n of them alone would have
sustified the conference. But the
wnole achievement has SO cleared the
atmosphere that It viii seem X
breathing the refreshing air of a new
morn OF promise.
You have written the first deliber-
ate and effective expression OF great
powers. in the consciousness OF peace.
Of wars utter futility, and challenged
the sanity OF competitive preparation
for each others d~dstruction. 10
have halted folly and lifted burdens
and revealed TO the world that the one
rure way to recover from the sorrow
and ruin and staggering obligations
of a world war is to end the strife
IN preparation for moro Of II, and turn
human enurgies to the constructive
ness OF peace.
Not all the world Ii yet t~ranquiliz'
ed. But here Is the example. to imbue
with new hope all who dwell in oppre'
hension. At this table came under
standing, and understanding brands
armed conflict as abominahle- in the
eyes of enlightened civilization
81 once believed in armed prepared
ness. 1 advocated it. But I have COM
now to believe there is better prepared
ness IN a public mind and a worlt
opinion made ready TO grant justice
precisely as It eIacts it And justice
IS better served in conference or peac'
than IN conflicts at arms.
How simple II all has been. Wher
you met here three weeks ago ther'
was not a commitment, not an bill
Ention except that which each delega
ton owes to h government commits
sioning It. But human service WA
calling, world conscience was impellint
and world opinion directing.
mo intrigue. no offensive or defen
e,ye alliances, no inducements hRv'
wrought your agreements, but reason
ing with each other common under
standing has made new relationship
nmong governments and peoples. new
securities for peace. and new oppor
tunities for achievement and attend
Ing happiness.
Here have been established tn
contacts of reason, here has come tn
Inevitable understanding Of face+to
lace exchanges when passion does no
Inflame. The very atmosphere sham
ed national s~elflshness into retreat