Evening star., 1932-02-11
World k)tical as Geneva
Seeks Aduced Armaments

Pessimism is reflected in ii
ments on the meeting OF the ON tei
ence on Arms Reduction at Genser- ar
conflict continues in the Far East as en-
failure of existing treaties to mafle re-
peace casts a shadow over present IN
forts. although 1t is felt that the L IN
Of reducing the armament burden q ar
creating conditions favorable to worl IN
wide peace persists. sc
For all the political conflict fte
Europe. for all the war in the Orient,
the worlds peoples will be WiStfully
concerned in the Geneva conference =
says the Minneapolis Journal. while the
Philadelphia Inquirer concludes that
there is still hope for the patient where
there is life, and the countless millions
| Of human beings who believe in reduc-
tion of armsments as an important step
| in the direction Of universal peace must
! agree with Arthur Henderson when he
| refuses to contemplate even the pos
Herald Tribune declares: 1T now seems
| improbable that the conference will re-
| duce the existing armaments burden by
| any considerable amount, but 1t does
| not seem unlikely that it will remove
| many damaging obfuscations and leave
! clearer road for the future"
Observing that the League has check
ed war in Europe, and the conference
offers Arthur Henderson "a world forum
from which to plead for intelligent ac-
tion." the Omaha World-Herald says:
This is not much. but it is some
/ thing. At the least it keeps the sacred
| fires burning. At the best, even when
hope has fed. it may yet fan them
into flames in which the menacing war
| demons will be devoured. 1t is within
/ no nf To
The incentive is compelling And the
| League. its agencies and ideals, pro-
vide the instrument, ready at hand.
What is required is that the better ma
| ture of mankind assert itself. with wis
dom and courage raised up to guide
it. 1t is for this that men Of good
will have long been praying-and it
has been long prayer. Perhaps. in
the providence Of God. favorable re-
sponse will be much longer delayed"
The conference will endeavor to
bring about a reduction, not only of
armaments. but of the spirit of war"
declares the Salt Lake Deseret News,
adding that, IF it succeeds, civiliza-
ton will have made significant step
upward" The Pasadena Star-NeWs
offers the Judgment: ANY effective
work at this time by Disarmament
Conference seems out Of the question,
but the cause of world peace will go on,
despite temporary setbacks." The In
dianapolis News adds: THE confer
ence would be unfaithful to its obliga-
ton If it did less than face the situa-
ton courageously and afford at least
an estimate of world opinion" The
News suggests that lit may find the
prospect brighter than the present
crisis portends."
RECOGNIZING "a continuous peace pro-
gram the Oakland Tribune states:
"Ironical as it is that the Geneva meet
ing starts as the world Is watching
events in China, there is consolation In
the fact the peace will Is not routed.
The Shanghai demonstration OF ruth
less force is in itself a challenge to
civilization and one which sooner or
later must be answered"
1.-THE best way out" advises the Roa-
noke World-News would be to post
pone the conference now for at least
six months or until the Chinese situ-
alton has been settled" The Cincin-
natl Times-Star calls the opening of
the conference zone of the supremely
ironic events Of modern times" point
ing out that practically every world
power is sending warships loaded with
fighting men to China" while there Is
"the chronic obstacle of nationalistic
rivalries in Europe"
There is much more to arms reduc-
tion," asserts the Dayton Daily News,
than mere arms reduction. How much
Of this earth is held in bond, what in