The New York herald., 1922-04-30

|
their elopement. but never for more than
America We're comprised or men sni
women of all nations who were enjoy
ing here the blessings of American lib
erty and united in hoping for the re-
Mobilization and happiness Of ths coun-
tries from which they or their ancestors
came. So that public opinion in the
United States was united soidly and
enthusiastically for world peace.
Beyond any period in history, states
men when they meet together are n wv
| more impressed by and responsive II
public opinion. Under these conditions
the conference at Washington became
the most important assemblage Of all
time. The great Powers were there
with their ablest representatives. They
expected the usual processes of slow
development long debate and difficult
agreements. The genius of the Ameri-
can spirit the inspiration OF the solidity
Of American public opinion, changed the
! diplomacy of the ages.
! After an Illuminating speech by
President Harding, Mr.. Hughes, instead
OF presenting a program for debate.
said. The United States, in the inter-
ests of peace and lifting the burdens of
nations, is willing to scrap so much of
its sea power. Your share on the same
ratio will be so much. Will you accept
t?" Then came another surprise. show
ing the influence again of the inspra-
| tion of the occasion and. the environ
ment.
Great Britain had more at stake
than any other nation. and yet in thirty
minutes. and without consultation with
his own Government, that veteran an,l
enlightened statesman, Mr.. Balfour.
| said, Great Britain accepts The rep
! resentatives of other nations soon fol-
! lowed. The ruinous competition ol
armaments, which was a perpetual
threat to the peace of the world and an
increasing burden of taxation TO already
overtaxed nationalities, was done away
with II was the finest achievement in
modern times of parliament OF the
Powers.
Anglo-Japanesc Treaty Gone.
Probably the greatest menace 70
peace on and about the Pacific Ocean
was the treaty of alliance between Great
Britain and Japan. 1t aroused sus-
picion and irritation in the United STATE 8
and 1t spurred Japan to unusual com
mitments in naval expansion becaIse OF
the backing of the British Empire, and
that so reacted upon the United States
| as TO induce an ardent pacificist Admin
istration and pacificist Secretary Of
the Navy like Secretary Daniels to pro-
pose a scheme of naval construction
which ultimately would have made the
United States the strongest naval power
in the world. and with an expenditure
for naval expansion beyonI the total
cost OF government before the great
war.
THE four Power treaty did away with
the British Japanese alliance. 1t bound
the great Powers on the Pacific Ocean
to peace and friendship for the next ten
years. 1t stopped the necessity for
naval construction. and on the part Of
the United States. for vast fortifica-
tions upon the Philippines and our
Eastern islands. 1t bound the four
Powers. If any dispute arose. before
any action. to meet in conference in an
effort at settlement. There was in the
treaty no alliance. no commitments as
to force, just the conscience and the
honor of the great Powers to maintain
peace and act justly with one another
1T is said that when Columbus landed
on our shores the Indian chief turned
around to the members of his tribe AMI
said, Ladies and gentlemen, We can nv
longer hide. We have been discovered
The United States cannot continue in a
POSITION OF IsOldllOn from lle WOTlu
Its entrance into the world war. Its
contribution to the victory for liberty
and civilization. it's efforts at the ver-
gailles conference. it's triumphs at the
conference at Washington. have placed
us in a position from which there Is no
retracting.
I'VE not only have our responsibility
TO civilization, but we have also. as the
greatest Of productive countries, with
a large surplus OF agriculture and man
ufactures requiring a market, the ne
cessity OF aiding in the adjustment Of
international difficulties and the reha-
bilitation Of the industrial forces of the
world.
Allied Debt Menace to Us.
"Tn this connection arise some very
interesting questions. European gov
ernments owe to the United States, with
principal and interest, about eleven
billions of dollars.
Il recently had an opportunity while
In Washington to discuss these questions
with Senators and Congressman.
found that this European debt is re-
garded by many as a real asset upon
which to base important enterprises
and large expenditures. In way II
Is national menace. because propa-
gandists and promoters say 1t is not
necessary to impose any further taxes
or economies fer our scheme The
money Is In the debts due us from
Europe and viii cost the American
people nothing
This belief was so strong among the
advocates of the soldiers bonus that the
Secretary OF the Treasury, Mr. Mellon
incurred grave danger of having articles
OF impeachment presented against him
- 1<4 Nt.oN .l.f.t
could not be utilized at present for any
purpose. The advocates OF an unprece-
dentedly large subsidy for the Ameri-
can merchant marine were reaching out