The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-01

upon to summons a world conferen anarchy.
 Mir. Harding began a hard task at Washington. The dispatches today indicate to us that both he and Sec retary Hughes feel that if the Wash ington conference falls in certain re- spects, any further and wider con- ference would be useless. But, at east, we must admit that the pub 'city at Washington already has lone much good respecting arma- nents. A renewed conference under she same. conditions would do more than anything else to rouse the moral sense of mankind to economic needs and facts. So we feel that what Mir Harding began in 1921 he may have yet the opportunity of continu- ng in the coming year.
 4f Prime Minister Lloyd George fa- ~fors world conference to ascertain she facts and conditions and to deal win them in a spirit of peace. Great Britain. it is needless to say, would be glad of American cooperation in this conference. We would even wei come American initiative, if the op- portunity opens. in continuing an- other conference.
 France Stumbling Block
 In the meantime. let me say that France Is proving most difficult. We have really reached the stage in our relations with France at which a d. vengeance of policy and of interest cannot be camouflaged with parlia-i mentary phrases.
 Great Britain, on her part, wants a restoration of German trading pub lie, and France wants first of all ths exaction of full measure of reparationg
 Tn the wider field we have Frances army, against the world, whereas England wants less of armament the opening of markets and the sal cage of shipwrecked peoples.
 These things are vital to us and we believe they are vital to the world. They will be pressed by Lloyd ieorgc in the resumed discussions tho coming week at Cannes, and they will be pressed afterwards at the world conference, if one should he held.
 The new year opens here under de- pressing circumstances. for there are still nearly 100000 unemployed. There has been no material lessening in the number in many weeks. Nor can there be except through i'm proved trade, and there can be no improved trade In a bankrupt and o4SOf . 6ahi1Su WOii0s III Wiitth OHC fo forced to view the international sit nation from the point of view of self interest.
 Petty Fears Responsible
 The world is awry because of petty sars and, patriotic cancers. Nations
 hich were born of the World wars
 avail. such as Poland and Hungary
 i'd Jugo-Elavia, though steeped in
 ,verty. have yet millions of men un-
 sr arms.
 Germany pleads an inability to pay the preparations installment about to fall due, but the plea is regarded by many with suspicion, in view of Ger manys prodigality during the last three years, with her subsidized in- dustry and her inflated currency.
 In consequence. Frenchmen are de- manding an examination and control of all German assets.
 Russia constitutes special prob lem. Recognition by the soviets of all pre-war debts has so far been demanded by the allies as a condition of the recognition of the Russian gov ernment, but even if Lenine and com pany were prepared to make such an anJecx surrender, their act could be but ampty form. Another revolution may come and moreover payment or pre-war individual debts would ii-, Sclve the restoration Of property to indivioual owners Probably most of the property no longer exists. Many of the owners are certainly dead. Truly, revolutions nowadays break a great deal more than can be mended
 Lloyd George and Briand are 10 consult their colleagues of the allied supreme council during the coming week with view of piecing up sons # the old world fragments. And 1 m glad to note that Ambassador Iarvey will be present. They may their best. but recent events show tat Premier Briand is terribly ham cred by home influences. His op- onents, Poincare among them, are wing for the flesh of the bond .anted France at Versailles. While
 ,incare was pressing for this flesh
 the French press, the French dele stes were breaking the atmosphere