Evening star., 1932-02-14
ARMS PARLEY'S ONLY HOPE
IS TO RETAIN STATUS QUO
Each Nation Pictured as Fearing the
Other, With League Showing Its
Impotency in Far East.

rallies and prayer meetings are without
any meaning to most Of the European
statesmen, who look on in amazed and
amused silence. For them the problem
is one of political realities entirely. This
moral and religious fervor is wholly
meaningless. The presence and activity
of these women constitute one Of the
oldest circumstances, their enthusiasm
contrasting impressively with the gen.
eral peSsimism and synicism that are
dictated by the Sino-Japenese War and
the Franco o-German-Italian conflicts.
The limit of possibility for progress
outside of the stabilization Of land and
naval forces is some preliminary ex-
ploration into the subject of air war
fare. This possibility arises from the
fact that all nations are equally terri
fled by the prospect Of universal de-
Struction that is now inevitable by rea-
son of the progress and development
of planes and gas. The whole frontier
areas, populations of Berlin, London
and even Paris, are faced with the
possibility of annihilation.
Tardieu's Adroit Move.
The cleverness of Andre Tardieu,
French minister of war, in laying down
the first project and directing it toward
the air question is obvious. 1t was a
direct bid for British support, for Great
Britain is most alarmed over the pros
pect as the most exposed country. The
successful seizure of his lead in the
field foreordained it to be the single
serious endeavor toward the present
achievement. The excitement, and even
anger, that the project has awakened
in German and Italian quarters is evi-
dence of the skill of the stroke, 1t also
is indicative of the jealousi,s and rival
ries that are seething everywhere.
The American role in the conference
is patiently insignificant. The gradual
decline in the stature of American rep
resentativeS in these international meet
ingS is exciting wide comment. After
Wilson. Hughes and Stimson. the selec
ton of Hugh Gibson as head of the
delegation is accepted as sign of
lack of American interest. Gibson un-
queStionably is the most experienced
and ablest American diplomat, but he
is without the prestige or official posi-
ton to talk on an equal basis with prime
ministers and foreign ministers. The
situation in the eyes of the conference
is that Gibson is President Hoover's
telephone spokesman. Other represent
atives are negligible in European eyes
as unknown and without political i'm
pOrtance.
Nations May Withdraw.
Were Great Britain and the United
States to resort to force in the Far
East the conference would have to be
adjourned automat tically. II France and
Germany come to grips, as is daily
possible. the moral effect would be in
calculable. japanese withdrawal from
the League on one hand and Germany
hi
ties in all minds. One of the most ia
nous OF foreign ministers expressed the
situation to me as follows:
The watchword of the disarmament
conference must be 'durch halten'-to
hold out All Europe is in the midst OF
q crisis which certainly will last for
two years more. While the crisis lasts,
and until stable government reappearS
in Germany. supreme efforts must be
directed at saving what remains of the
League and awaiting a moment when
we can recommence. Today the League
is a being without prestige or power.
All exposed countries must rely upon
force alone to maintain themselves.
America and Britain pressing for con-
siderable achievement now can only
gravely complicate the situation. Ma
tions may talk security, but their real
problem is survival"
Real Agreement Impossible.
The thing that Americans must
realize if they are to understand the
present conference is that Europe is SO
completely disorganized and so fevered
that any measure of real agreement is
impossible. Distrust, suspicion and ac-
tual fear are rampant. Statesmen here
simply are repeating their national
sentiments and are helpless TO modify
them under the present state of their
own public opinions. This is no con-
ference in any true sense Of the word.
no meeting of minds, because their
minds have been left in safe deposit
boxes at hcme German. French and
even British orators are making cam
paign speeches. maneuvering for ad-
vantage or. in the German case, fight
ing to save their national life.
Il am an optimist," said one of the
greatest League champions and
veteran foreign minister, but my cp-
timism is limited to the hope that we
shall sign here a convention which
means nothing toward disarmament, to
be sure, but witnesses the fact that we
haven't broken up in open hostility"
Copyright, 1922