Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-21
The World Hears London.


King George of England and the
principal delegates Of the i've great
naval powers of the world threw down
the gage today to competitive naval
ornaments at the formal opening OF
the London Naval Conference. Neither
the King, who In q brief address vel
coined the delegates and in general
terms measured the task which is be-
fore them, nor the representatives OF
the nations minimized the magnitude
OF the work before them But utmost
stress was laid upon the necessity OF
success at the conference and the dam
gers which would acrue to the world in
the event of failure. The keynote of
the opening session was optimism,
tinged with the seriousness of the sit
uation which 'confronts the maritime
nations. Upon the success of the naval
conference depends, the speakers point
ed out, the ultimate success of the
movement for general limitation and
reduction on land and in the air, q
matter in which the countries Of Europe
are particularly interested.
Addressing the delegations to the con-
ference in the historic chamber of the
House of Lords in Westminster Palace,
King George said: "Since the Great
War. all of US have determined to leave
nothing undone to prevent q repetition
OF that grim and immense tragedy"
The British ruler said clearly that the
object Of the present conference is to
bring about an agreement between the
maritime nations on the limitation Of
naval ornaments and to bring the re-
'duction in those ornaments to point
consistent with national security" He
placed the blame for competitive arma-
,ments upon the supposed necessity
which has led to . feeling of insecurity
between nations and even to the risk
Of war"
Ramsay Macdonald, the British prime
minister and chairman of the naval
conference, laid particular emphasis
upon the steps which have been taken
and are being taken to lessen among
the nations the feeling Of insecurity,
fear and suspicion and to build up a
system for dealing with international
disputes without recourse to war. "As
q matter Of fact" said the British pre-
mier. ''the generations Of experience
which fear uses to pen US up in SPELL
bound Businesses Of militarism ought
by their failures to enlighten us so that
We break the spell and seek for peace
and security by other means"
Mr.. Macdonald solemnly warned the
delegates to the conference that IF We
are not careful we shall be once more
involved in feverish competition such
as heralded the outbreak Of war In
1914" It was a warning that went far
beyond the confines of the Westminster
Palace, where the delegates met amid
mementoS and trophies Of war and naval
power. It was waited across oceans
and continents to the listening peoples
of the world. 1t was heard in Wash
ington, in Paris. in Rome and in far-off
Toxic as clearly as in London itself
The fundamentally was that marvel OF
the twentieth century, the radio. If the
great need is understanding among ma
tons, surely the means Of communica-
ton and of the dissemination of infor-
nation now developed are . guaranty
Of success at the London Conference.
The spokesman Of the United States,
Of France, Italy and Japan were no less
insistent than the spokesman Of their
hosts that the conference should and
would succeed. Secretary Stimgon
heading the American delegation, de-
clared that naval limitation is . con-
tinuous process" and that disarmament
was "a goal to be reached by success
sive steps, by frequent revision and i'm
proyement." This Is the common sense
practical way of regarding the situation
and the problem which it presents. The
London conference Is q link in the
chain, just as was the Washington con.
ference In 1921. The present confer
ence may achieve greatly. But it,
achievements will be the stepping stones
to further advance toward disarmament
and world peace.