Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-26
Disarmament.


President Hoovers eloquent appeal
FOR world peace and reduction Of arma-
msnts, made yesterday in a radio ad-
dress TO the Methodists of all nations
gathered In Atlanta, called attention to
the patent fact that I'VE still make
progress against them the crushing
burdens caused by wars) at a snail's
pace" Almost at the very hour In which
the President was making his appeal for
disarmament joint statement on be-.
half of the President Of the United
States and the French prime minister
was issued at the White House. in which
both pledged themselves to do all in
their power to make the Geneva confer
enee on limitation and reduction Of arm
aments next February q success. But
the difficulties which the conference at
Geneva will face are regarded as almost
insurmountable. There must be re-
vision Of world affairs before there can
be an agreement for real arms cuts that
will reduce the burdens of taxation and
lessen the chance Of war.
It is idle, almost. to talk of arms re-
auctions to France and to the nations
Of Central Europe when Russia, for
example, stands at their doors with an
army estimated at 100000 men. 1t Is
obvious that no agreement can be made
which does not take into consideration
this Russian army and the clear impli-
cation Of the Soviet governments de-
mand for an overthrow of all capitalistic
forms Of government and reversion TO
the Soviet type Of rule. And yet the
battle for peace and for arms reductions
must continue unless the world Is pre-
pared some day TO abandon itself again
to an orgy Of war, out Of which will
grow more and more misery.
To the United States, separated from
Europe by 5000 miles Of water and
from Asia by an even greater ocean,
the dificulties which confront the ma
lions Of Europe and Asia are some
times dificult to understand. There u
an impatience with the Old World in
this New World Of ours which Is not
unlike the impotence Of youth with
age. Youth looks TO progress and age
looks back upon the experiences Of the
past and is unable to forget the lessons
which adversely hes stamped upon its
very soul. Europe and Asia must set
tie their own troubles. the American
holds. But these are troubles which
are heritage Of thousand years and
more of strife and conquest. It is not
sufacient merely to be impatient with
the slow progress Of Europe toward
public mind imbued only with ideas Of
peace. There are concrete problems
which must be solved.
The United States by its advocacy
Of peace and the example 1t has set
In the world has done much to advance
the cause Of disarmament and world
peace. It must continue to do more.
Where its good ofaces can be used they
should be used. President Hoover's APP
peal to the Methodists throughout the
world 10 work for peace and arms lin
itation is timely. The constant iteration
and reiteration Of the love of peace;
the development Of peace -mindedness
throughout the nations Of the world Will
IN the end be effective. There are two
kinds Of peace. One Is maintained
through force and fear. The other Is
peace born of willingness to be peace
full. Only the latter can be permanent.
The United States in Its efforts to bring
about permanent peace and disarmament
cannot AFFORD to ignore the Russian sit
uation and the huge army maintained
today in that country. Nor can 1t
AFFORD to ignore certain irritating ar
rangements of territory within the
boundaries Of Europe