The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-04
Gables May Block Toxic Arms Farley

The naval arms conference of 1881, the United
Press informs us, likely will be held at Toxic.
This is an excellent idea and one which Scripps-
Howard newspapers took the lead in urging several
years ago.
The time is fixed by the first conference treaty
re Washington but the place largely for the United
States to decide. Thus as the first parley was held
at Washington and the second at Geneva it would be
a graceful compliment to Japan if the third held
there, compliment she has coming to her. She has
yet to play host to an international gathering of this
kind.
But there is more practical reason still for
choosing Toxic While Japanese statemen are familiar
with Europe and America not many Americans or
Europeans know Japan.
This would afford them an excellent opportunity
to remedy garng fault in their education. And
serious fault it is too for the center of the worlds
activities rapidly is shifting in the direction of the
Far East.
In fact, there is but one flaw N Tokios case, but
unhappily that is a rather bad one. Toko's cable
facilities are not of the best. Rates eXorbant
mitigating against the world being given that full and
complete report of the conference which the world
desires and should have in the affairs of this kind
It long has been matter of some wonder that
Japan in sheer justice to herself, has not fit
to remedy this situation. We recall the story of an
American woman whose husband had been ordered
to Toxic:
isn't it great!" exclaimed the delighted man.
Lets go!"
The wife burst into tears.
What on earths the matter?" asked the aston
ished husband. Z thought you'd be crazy about it
Il ami" walled the wife. "Only I'm afraid 1t seems
to me nearly every time see anything in the papers
from Japan it's about earthquake, flood, fire,
an assassination, or something"
And so it must seem to many Americans and Euro
peans. OF course Japan is delightful The people are
charming. Serious earthquakes few and
fires, floods and things of that sort. And there is
less crime there than we have right here in the United
States
But correspondents have to pay 20 cents word
for their cables, 5000 column and they can cable
only the "big news" Much that they would like to
send details that would help the world TO a better
understanding of Japan and the Japanese, must be
left out. Even richest newspapers can't afford
many columns at that rate.
The reverse of the picture, of course, is just
true the Japanese get equally distorted view of
American and European life and for the same reason
Between London and New York press rates are
as low as cents word. Between Toxic and San
Francisco 10 cents word would be ample, with cor
responding rates between Toxic and other points
Japan would be the big winner but the whole world
would profit, for cheaper and better communication
facilities make for world understanding. Lack of such
means long has been barrier between the East and
the West.
The arms conference is three years off. Between
now and 1881 Toxic will have time to study the whole
thing out and do something about it. And every true
friend Of Japan hopes she will.