Evening Star Newspaper, November 20, 1921, Page 47

ELFISH INTERESTS \FHE -STORY THE WEEK HAS TOLD RULE IN NEAR EAST Allies Have Abandoned Concord in Deal- ing With Kemalists to Promote Nationali stic Weal. BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. XPEDIENCY in the perpetua- tion of nationalistic desires has supplanted allied concord in the near east. Much vaunted concert in wiping out for- ever the influence of the Turk in international affairs has faded as smoke before high winds. The treaty of Sevres has been made a pitiful thing, and now may be regarded much as the kaiser regarded the treaty pro- tecting the inviolable rights of Bel- glum, “a scrap of paper. The treaty has furthered no other | ends than placing new territories in the hands of European powers. In this |t has created occasion for fric- tion, causes for new troubles between the foreign offices of the various na- tions which by united action not only frustrated the will of the central powers but scotched the Turk. Under the press of European circumstances these allied governments, with their territories, control of which was given to them under mandatorial guises, find themselves at odds. The months that have elapsed since the signing of the treaty of Sevres kave witnessed tremendous transfor- mation not only of policy but action toward the Turks, all founded upon the very essence of natlonalistic selfishness and the perpetuation of nationalistic advantages. There little defense for the present situation if the allies really swore fealty to ommon_action in dealing with the Turk. For if ever there were such agreements they have been so torn asunder as to place the European na- tions upon g footing of self-seeking to the exclus’on of the interests of the allies as a whole. * ok x % _When the treaty of Sevres was signed by the powers it was desired to frustrate Turkish desires. The al- Mes dealt with the former Turkish government in Constantinople. The European powers feigned bitter e mity toward the government of Mus- tapha Kemal. Gond reason they had with the natfonalist leader of the Turks in close affiliation with the Russian reds. There was much ado over what the Turks would be forced to do. The allies received certain mandatorfes in former Turkish terri- tory, all of which were bitterly re- sented by Mustapha Kemal, who de- clared war upon those powers he in- sisted were striving to forever wipe out Mohammedan peoples and inter- ests. The {ll-timed Grecian expedition got under way. It has failed to im- press the Turks and at the same tinte is dangerously near collapse. The French in Syria and Cilicia_came into conflict with the Turks with the re- sult that the French decided Cilicia was not worth, as a realm ence, the lives and money it was cost- ing and withdrew back to Syria. * ok X ¥ There has been conflict between lent training in dealing with the Mo- hammedans has stood them in good stead. They have protected their in- terests in Palestine. Mesopotamia and India in spite of Turkish enmity and have lived up to agreements with Emir Feisal, who is to preside over Trak, an Arabic kingdom, and which has been frowned upon by the French, who have considered Feisal merely a tool in the hands of the British to extend British influence over a greater section of the Moham= medan World. The British, recognizing that K. mal is to be the power to be reckon with in Turkey, have made unoffi 1 tenders with the view of clearing up gome troublesome i into. In fact, the British look askance on the agreements which are reported to have been effected between Kemal- ists, France and Italy. The viewpoint of the British at the moment is that France has not plaved in good faith in perpetuating the com- munity of allied ideas in regard to ment particularly has done much to undermine allied infiuence in the Mo- hammedan world. The French may retaliate that the British are holding Constantinople in thelr hands and un- doubtedly will continue to do so, though the French claims for manda- torial powers in the former Turkish capital and straits have been ad- vanced. At least the French have argued there should be no proponder- ent influence of any one mation Constantinople, yet the British have made theirs the voice to dictate in the old capital. * ok ok ok The reported agreement between the French is said to embrace a secret pact wherein the French will strive to bring about return of Thrace to the Turks. The British radically| oppose this, for as long as the Turks .controlled Thrace they were In touch! “To the Bditor of The Star: The article by Mr. Oliver O. Kuhn on the Albanian situation in The Star of Sunday last gives. in my opinion, such a view of Serbian policy that 1 am constrained to ask you to give me the hospitality of your columns to present the other side of the question. Firstly, as regards the attitude of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes toward the question of a free and independent Albania, the | Belgrade government has repeatedly and solemnly declared that it favors and desires a free and independent Albania; but it must be really free and independent, and not merely a puppet government. of which some power outside Albania pulls the strings. Secondly, the government must be able to maintain order in the interior and prevent acts of brigand- age by turbulent clansmen on the territories of its neighbors. Mr. Kuhn states that the govern- ments of London. Paris and Rome “insistently demand that the Bel- grade government immediately set in ! Sotion steps to halt further aggres- ! sion In the Balkans.” He further apeaks of “Serbian ideas of aggrand- izement at the expense of weaker na- tions.” I would like one single act by Serbia tending to “aggrandize- ment at the expense of weaker na- tions” pointed out. The record is all the other way. In the questions of the Banat, the Baranya. Klagenfurt and Fiume Serbia has invariably given way. though in many instances (as, for example. 1n the matter of the Baranya and Fiume) she was forced 1o accept decisions which she regard- =d as unjust. In the matter of Fiume and the ad- venture of d'Annunzio she showed, and continues to show, admirable pa- tience. By the treaty of Rapallo Jugosiavia was given that portion nf Fiume which, is beyond all ques- tion Jugoslav, viz.. the port of Bar- ros. Though months have elapsed since the treaty was signed, the ltalian troops are still in possession of that port. But as the Belgrade covernment knows the difficulties of the Itallan government vis-a-vis the revolt of the fascisti, who threaten it with all kinds of dire pains and penalties if it dares to carry out a emn treaty signed by the gover: nt and ratified by the parliament, it pe i % giving the Italian cabinet all rea- Sonable time to carry out the treaty. In the Banat the difficulties with Rumania have not only been settled in the most friendly manner. but the Atlgrade und Bucharest governments is f influ-| Turkish and British interests, but the| fact that the British have had excel- | es, but no defi- | nite arrangements have been entered | Turkey and that the French agree-| in | DENIES THAT SERBIANS WOULD ROB ALBANIA OF TERRITORY | with the Bulgar,-and it Is known that the combination has been the source of much dificulty in recent decades. Furthermore, the Turks might now work hand in hand with the discord- ant elements of the Ealkans in hope that eventually Turkish rights in the straits and Constantinople might be recognized. Neither the Turks nor certain Balkan peoples have had any compunctions or hesitancy about forming agreements with purely selfish and ulterior motives in view, and there is no reason to suppose that this .would not be the case in the future unless there oe some definite line of demarkation between the Turkish_influence and Europe. The British propose to maintaln that, and when the governments of France and England get down to brass tacks in striving to unravel the many tangled skeins In the near east there is every reason to believe that the French will not progress far in advancing Turkish claims to Thrace. The British forelgn office has an- nounced that the French have thor oughly cxplained their agreemer with Mustapha Kemal, which are said to have been O K'd by Premier Briand before he came to Washington, but there is growing in London the belief that this does not end the matter, and before many months have elapsed there will be sharp conflict between the policies of France and Britain. * ok Kk ¥ Undoubtedly the British have looked forward to influencing the Turkish government. atr least the old one. While they have expected the allies to continue to deal with the old regime—though decadent it was the one which signed the treaty of Sev- res—other European countries. nota- bly France, have gone forward and practically recognized the Kemalists. In addition to obtaining commercial and mining concessions the French have obtained control of the Bagdad railroad from the Mediterranean to the Tigris. This concession is highly important, for it prevents immediate communication under Rritish direc- tion with the new Arabic kingdom of Emir Feisal, a condition which would have been exceedingly to the advan- tage of England in view of broad in- terests throughout the near east. i This railread likewise controls the {outlet of the new Arabic realm and if the French were fuclined to do so they can choke off prosperous inter- course between the Feisal's realm and i the outside world through Constanti- I nople and the straits. * ok ok ok The Rritish in Constantinople will be at disadvantage in communicating with southeastern interests, whereas. had the old Turkish government been sustained by all allies, Britain and | i | the allies as a whole might have been able to work the Bagdad rafl- ! road in unison and with particular advantage to no onec. As it is. the chief ariery of the near east is in the hands of the French for development. which means that other feeder lines reaching into regions where natural resources are rich will be developed by the French. 1In other words, through the French respect for the rights of the Kemalists, she is deal- ing with them as_the constituted Turkish authority. France's position | in Turkey has been enhanced ten- fold over that of the British. even though the British control most of the reaches from the Persian gulf to the Aegean sea. One important feature in regard to the whole situation lies in the future actions of Greece. The Greek forces have been the allles only vanguards— the punishing and compelling force apainst the Turks. The Greeks have »een more or less aided and abetted by i the English. while the French and Ital- ians have looked upon Grecian aggres- sion with suspicion. The Greek failure to press on to Angora and score a de- cisive victory over the Turks undoubt- edly influenced Italy and France to act in order to gain advantage for their na- tionals, but their action has placed the Creeks in entirely disadvantageous po- sition, no matter what their places may {be for the future. recian rights in Smyrna are de- clared recognized, but England believes that with France and ltaly obtaining considerable economic and commercial rights, and with both watching Greece's aspirations with suspicion, they may be inclined sooner or later through success in their dealings with the Turks to take definite sides against the Greeks. It may lead to the complete withdrawal of | the Greeks to the east of the Aegean, possibly eventual confinement of their influence in the isles of the Aegean and coastal trading points. | As the situation resis at the moment, France is looking out for France, Eng- land for England and Italy for Ttaly, |and_concerted action in handling the Turkish problem as a whole appears a | thing of the past. And the conflict of |interests as betweem the nations un- | doubtedly “sconer or later will lead to | sharp_exchanzes unless Turkey, repre- sented by Mustapha Kemal, brings about such a solution as to throw the allies together again in the protection of European intercsts as a whole. have entered into a treaty of alliance and friendship. In the matter of the Baranyva, though the Jugoslavs were far from approving the decision of the powers, they at once fulfilled the obligations they had undertaken and evacuated the district. Why, then. should Jugoslavia change her policy in the matter of Albania? Mr. Wuhn declares that “Serbia cares little whether she is awarded large slices of Albanian ter- ritory. if between these slices the port of Durazio does not nestle.’ This is_surel a most daring state- ment. The occupation of Durafzo by Jugoslavia would be equivalent to the annexation of Albania, as the possession of that port and a hinter- land_running up to the Jugoslav frontier (without which possession of the port would be useless) would cut Albania clean in two, isolating the northern from the southern por- tion. Mr. Kuhn states “there is no port so desirable as Durazzo.” This is a remarkable statement. ' Durazzo, strictly speaking. is not a port at all It is merely an open roadstead, wi out protection of any kind. No ship of any size can lie there. Durazzo, as a port, is far inferior to Ragusa, pelato or even Sebenico, Jugoslav harbors on the Dalmatian coast. To say that with the possession of Durazzo “Serbia could aspire to the domination of the Balkans and at time stand a potential the same menace to Italian control of the Adriatic” is erroneous. Jugoslavia does not_even possess a _gunboat, so how could she threaten Italy by the possession of an open roadstead like Durazzo? Mr. Kuhn seems to think that the question of Albania's frontiers was settled in 1913. This is not so, as he will find if he consults the records. The general frontier line was indi- cated by the conference of London, and the actual delimitation was to be carried out by a special delimitation commission on the spot. The world war broke out before this commis- sion began its task. After the noble struggle for free- dom made by Serbla during the war, a struggle In which one-fourth of her population dled; after the heroism of her army and the fashion in which she kept her plighted word to the al- lies, she is, as a nation, worthy of every sympathy and aid. The king- dom’ of the Serbs, Croats and Slo- venes may make mistakes in policy (errare humanum est), but the desire to impose her rule by force on any alfen pogulnlon is not one. Quéstions of neighborship with Albania are sub- ject to many locgl conditions which cannot be apprecizted otherwise than on the spot, and matters of frontier* . THE' SUNDAY’ STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. NOVEMBER 20, 1921—PART 2. BY HENRY W. BUNN. (Copyright, 1921, by The Washington Star.) the for HE following is a brief summary of most important news of the world the seven days ended November 19: THE CONFERENCE.—The confer- ence on limitation of armament was opened on the 12th. President Harding made a speech of welcome. Mr. Balfour nominated Secretary Hughes for permanent chalrman, and he was %0 acclaimed. Mr. Hughes made a speech which astounded and no less delighted the world; for effect no other speech is to be compared with it. He proposed for the three great naval . powers a ten-year holiday in capital ship con- struction, abandonment of their shipbuilding programs, scrapping of a large number of ships, built or building, and limitation of auxiliary combatant craft so that they should “sustain a sultable relation to the capital ship tonnage allowed.” He ended suggestively: “The nations will have ample opportunity dur- ing the naval hollday of ten years Lo consider thelr future course.” He sketched his plan in outline only, referring to a detalled proposal agcepted the proposal “in principle.” The British, because of their far-flung possessions, would like a more generous allowance of cruisers; and they would like to have the sub- marine maximums cut down and submarines limited in respect of size. (I for one should like to see this disgusting type abolished, and there is a strong general- sentiment #dat way.) The Japanese would like their general propor- tion raised from 60 to 70 per cent of the strength of Britan and the United States, and are suggesting other changes in their favor. The British are not likely to insist. One is not so sure about the Japanese. - But the pros- pect seems good of an agreement differing little from the American proposal. The conferees are now engaged upon thelr crucial problem—China. The Chinese delegates have submitted ten principles to “gulde the conference in Its determinations” concerning China. These principles contemplate a China which should include the eighteen provinces, Mongolia, Manchuria and Thibet; a Chinese government exercising sovereignty over every parcel of these territorius to precisely the same extent as the British government exercises soverelgnty in Great Britain: complete emanci- pation to be effected within a time limit to be set. A bold proposal, the reaction to which, especially of the Japanese, will be watched with interest. postponement of psyment of the reparation in- stallment jof gold marks due November 15, the German government promising to have the money by December 1, through a loan from the German Industrial Union (headed by those sinister individuals, Stinnes and Thyssen), but the German Industrial Union, it seems, will not lend the money except on conditions to ac- ceptance of which the, government might weil prefer resignation or a declaration of bank- ruptcy. These conditions, I understand, in- clude denationalization of the rallways and the right of the industrial chiefs to recefve full in- formation from and to “advise” the government. 1t is obvious how acceptance of such conditions would be equivalent to acknowledgement of Stinnes, Thyssen and company as_a super- zovernment: an intolerable thing. But if the loan is not forthcoming, what then? And sup- posing the government should be able by one expedient or another to scrape together the money for the November reparation instaliment, what of the January instaliment? The repara- tians commission is evidently trying to find the answer to these questions at first hand. Sup- pose a declaration of bankruptcy: what to do? A reparations moratorium? The reparations commission has authority under the Versailles treaty to grant that; but they will be for satis- fying themselves first as to the causes of bank- dr for submission to the delegates. ‘The following are the most striking features wn up by American naval experts and ready % THE BRITISH EMPIR * %k ruptey. The “The annual con- results of the inquiry may indi- te an honest bankruptey, inevitable under the of 1‘27 detalled proposal: ference of the unionist party was held at "dl'loim. or lhe.y may not. A reparations Vithin three months from signed agree- Liverpool oday: Apat Eres it oratorium may be “Indlcated,” or on the con- ment to the proposal, by' Britain. Jupan and dverpool on Thursday, that great mam. the ... 4y ajlied commission of liquidation, or the United States all capital ships, built or Earl of Derby, presiding. A motion by the yomething of that sort—Heine! i St e b ept vertaln “dle-hards,” censoring the government for its ¥ E named Gnes, must be scrapped. ' There would conduct of the Irixh business. died Instead. THE UNITED STATES OF AMBERICA— main: Sreat Britain twenty-iwo capital it was resolved, few dissenting, “That this Some 55,000 garment workers in New York g*;l"ll’:-! “L}',’;'m:‘é',:"“jfp :‘IN»:;“:N lvlugi‘e “h‘r;ll;;: conference express its earnest hope that, con- city struck on Monday against substitution of e LS. iotBl LOANABE istently with the supremacy of the crown, piece-work for “week-work” and a forty-nine- nage. 209,700, ) the security of the empire and the pledges hour week for a forty-four hour week. Kach The tonnage basis for capital ship replace- given to Ulster and the safeguarding of the side. ds usual, charges the other with bad faith. ment to be as follows: For the United States, Great Britain, 500,000 tons. tons. At the end of ten old may be replaced. TI 500,000 For Japan, 300,000 years (subject to the above maximums) capital ships twenty years tonnage displuce- interests of the minority in the south of Ire- land, a solution of the Irish difficulties may in the conference now tons. For be found which will bring peac Ireland and strength to An important matter. unionist opposition might fatally obstruct the in progress e to t Britain and the empire.” It was feared that all farm pro at roads The rallway executives make a cut of 10 per cent in freight rates on whose condition is precarious. the end of six months the Railway Labor Board have decided to on all the ew England, . however, at ducts, effective at one except those of 1 ment of replacement ships Is Itmited to 35.000. premier's efforts to achieve a compromise set- *hall wot have granted the wage cuts demanded, Hotilie Teadora o ;""l:";'e‘;f 0 Be: [roisere: tlement of the Irish question. It is now clear mux Olddrale» say the executives, will then be 5 S s Des that all parties are overwhelminzly back of Testored. e e e Paan 0 w0 Geeat Britaln, the premier, and it can hardly be doubted that The Senate has still to-act on the_railroad Tothl’ toniage. Allowanns. of ‘;“‘- i Ulster will, in face of so general a =entiment, relief bill and the Newberry case. The ma- et O e o g0y Marines 10 yield enough to make success of the negotia- lernity bill is before the House. The tax be: For the United States. 90, ons; for Yrent o E e Csinn Feln possible: concedimne Tevision bill is in conference. A singular thing oA i 998 ons; for Japan, 54000 pe principle of lrish umity, with an all-Irish has happened. The House had voted a maxi- tons. Total tonnage allowance of airplane riers to be: For the United States, 80,000 ton: parliament. but obtal T~ against every specles ining’ fron safeguards ~ mum of coercion or discrim- : fnatlon (such safeguards s equal representa- — man fo Sreoat Britpin, 80,000 tons; for Japan 48,000 e IOl (SUED SHTEINTCr the all-reland parlia- committee, i} ment. its own provincial parliament. extraor- cent. B e oIS, above classes Of dinary reserved rights. etc.). “It canuot be _ Houss voted suxiliary craft exisient November 1L 1921 1% doubied.” I sald: but, remembering the history At gxcess of the standard maximums, need not of Ireland, one must’ doubt up to’the moment Gen. Diaz w e scrapped, and vessels of these classes whose o consummation of the world's hope. and made a keely, wers) 110, down by, sovember, 11 1921 The Prince of Wales, arriving at Bombay, monies (the may be completed. ~And If, in any case, With g greeted with unbounded enthusiasm by the conducted by the keels laid down the total tonnage is short income surtax rate of 32 Senate one of 50. Fordney of The letter was read to the House. the New Willard per cent. the The President wrote Chair- the House ways and means uggesting a compromise on 40 per The the Senate rate of 30 per cent. Hotel the other day adopted into the Crow nation big chief, with appropriate cere- dance, the song, the investiture) Chief Plenty Coups, the supreme and chiefs. - . pobulace, Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the non- head of the Crows, veral other of the standard maximum. construction 1s per- co-operation movement, hud made frantic ef- There are now two Flenty Coups the old Crow are. allowed ‘sm},ml 5E douras. 6 "“':""‘z"‘:' forts to put the hoycott and general strike and the general. We should live to have seen the TiRkimume): Of ciuisérm when sévonteon yoave into effect. but at the sIght of the brince the Neapolitan hero in the costume of a Crow B . h 2 ¥ admonitions of the saint were forgotten. That warriol ?,"‘:,,,fr ":.’,"::"f;."h,"“"e':"’“,‘ff_" »2nd _sub- was a shrewd political move, to send the prin On Friday the Senate, by a vote of 36 to il When twenty Joara gq° Of wiplane’ o India. That gallant youth, with his open approved the conference report on the anti- Y s il engaging manner, ix an imperial asset of the beer bill. . 11 e Imyoriante of the Mefchant marine Very Brat water. 'Inecldentally, there are 2 good k% K ments, regulations must be provided to govern MANY XIERS \nat the “.',"‘r’;?,,l.'::;;,‘,“" 0 MISC NBEOUS.— Baron Takahashi suc- its conversion features for war purposes.” SToREy it fcates ceeds Hara as premier of Japan. He wasx e o Steat imteitante Tor thi i (But a report just arrived indicates that otvious.” © mportance of this matter is pace heen rlots in Bombay. chiefly of Moham- minister of finance under Hara and retains that “0\"&;“{ io,the fact thae aial ft medans, and snml; fl[:r\rflh!l fon )i!‘['f:I" as to portfolio. No other changes are made in the i ct that naval alrcraft may the prince's reception in Calcutta. s situa- eabinet. The elevati 36 Tolahashi -elves be readily adapted from special types of com- tion deserves watching. . ":“; "\a"\"v" vl';“‘““‘;""'“_; & "m‘,""‘ 'I"‘R ‘;“:’i mercial aireraft, it {s not considered practical The Moplahs of Malabar continue to murder, Kreat satisfaction 2t HEsMARtOn . AL :o x:;‘escr:he mfnm for nra\al alrur:fl." Since, burn and pillage, their fanatic zeal unabated. ","fp:‘ F‘l’;“‘:{m 'or“ “M':» h g&l'|:l “?;":’r:‘l‘x:::w:: n the view of many of e most competent ® ok K K Hey e . chan the instructions Lo anese Abblets vy RiTiatt (CariyIng Bombs and potson GERMANY —What 1 happening i Ger- GURESS I (1S IDRUERAR, 00 TR gas). since the future ):fl‘naval v’\"ar{npx")e °|r-: many? By reason of a report from the alli lightened financier and economist, so that he (paradoxically) In the air, it is to be hoped committee on guarantees in Berlln (whose bus is anti-militarist and an advocate of a policy that the conference will address ltself earnestly ness It Is to keen a constant eye on financial, Ol mon-aggression toward or = Eenerous oo- (It 1a on the akenda) o the devising of means inqustrial and commercial doinks in Germans) Opsretiontith: China/’ OF agvmy information ithout Shith slreadl wonid i:"cmannpam(‘:c;‘x’; the rveparations commission hurried off 10 " Frank A. Vanderlip has published a_plan innocuous). Berlin on the 7th. It will be recalled how ~ for a gold reserve bank of the United States 04 ¢ . The British and Japanese delegates have the reparations committee allowed a fifteen-day of KEurope, which has a very promising ivok. Advising U. S. Delegates . On Far Eastern Economics ‘W. S. CULBERTSON, Member of the United States Tariff Commiesion, who has been appointed technical adviser in charge of eco- momic questions for the conference on limitation of armament and quexstions of the Pacific and far east. police must be left for the two gov- ernments to settle. All ghat the powers can ask is that Jugosiaval cheerfully and completely accepts the principle of the independ- ence of*Albania, This I maintain she does and will always do. But between that and supporting a state of brig- andage and anarchy in Albania, ren- dering the security of the Serbian frontiers impossible, there is a gulf. G: GORDON-SMITH. SEES ARMS CONFERENCE DUE TO PEOPLE’S DEMAND Not Conceived in Minds of States- men and Politicians, Mrs. La Follette Declares. The conference on the limitation of i | i i armament is the direct result of a; world-wide demand of the people and was not conceived in the minds of statesmen and politicians, Mrs. Robert La Follette, wife of Senator La Fol- lette of Wisconsin, told members of the Teachers' Unions of Washington and the Women's Trade Union League at a joint dinner Friday night at the Woman's City Club. Mrs. La Follette declared that “if the people will con- sistently and determinedly demand disarmament and its result—peace— the world will get it.” 1t was pointed out by Mrs. La Fol- lette that Germany's enforced dis- armament is going to give that coun- try an economic advantage over other nations because she can divert the ‘money which other nations are spend- ing on armament to the building up of resources and trade. s Other speakers were Miss Julia Lathrop, formerly chief of the chil dren’s bureau of the Department of Labor, and Miss Kate Manicom, who is representing. the British Trade Union Women at the arms parley. Miss Lathrop said that as primitive man comes to realize through per- suasion that he did not need the club to manage his family, so clvilized man is commg to realize that he does not need the “big stick” to manager the affairs of the world. Miss Manicom spoke of the power of union as com- pared with the individual, and told of WOULD PUT END TO WARFARE | BY OUTLAWING CONSCRIPTION Writer Thinks Compulsory Military Serv- ice Presents Greatest Menace Today to the Peace BY H. GARDNER McKERROW. S the representatives of the na- tions of the earth gather in Washington on the eve of the most significant event in the history of mankind since the coming of the Prince of Peace, and give ex- on to those hopes and desires pressi | with which they have been charged by their peoples, there is but one ulti- jmate aspiration to be heard—for the coming of perpetual peace. Yet even now the clear shining of this beacon is becoming obscured by the growing confusion of the discus- sion regarding tentati balances, safeguards and irreducible minima; and the one simple formula by which the hope of the world may be attained at once and forever, has not yvet been spoken. ‘Would Abolish Conscription. Let all the nations of the earth abandon universally and for all time the principle of conscription. Deprive any one man, or aggregation of men, of the power and right to send his; fellow creatures to war, to Kkill and be killed, without their consent. Individual murder is now universal- Iy accepted as being without the pale of legislative authorization and is regarded by all civilized peoples as a moral obliquity to be met with prompt and condign punishment. So must the heretofore incoherent fe ing of the world, now crystallizing into a definite, imperative and over- | powering demand _that the disputes of governments shall no longer be settled by hurling vast bodies of con- scripted men against each other, equipped with every infernal inven- tion for the destruction of human life, be understood as an impossible and unthinkable degeneration. Carlyle wrote, over fifty years ago: What, speaking in quite unoffi- clal language, is the net purport and upshot of war? To my own knowledge, for example, there dwell and toil, in the British Vil- lage of Dumdrudge, usually, some five hundred souls. From these, by certain “natural Enemies’ of the French, there are successfully se- lected, during the French War, say, thirty able-bodied men. Dum- drudge, at her own expense, has suckled and nursed them; she has. not without difficulty and sorrow, fed them up to manhood, and even trained them to crafts, so that one can weave, another build, another hammer, and the weakest man can stand under thirty stone avoirdu- pois. Nevertheless, amid much weeping and swearing they are selected, all dressed in red, and shipped away at the public charges, some two thousand miles, or say only to the South of Spain, and fed there till wanted. And now to that same spot, in the South of Spain, are thirty similar French artisans, from a French Dum- drudge, in llke manner wending, till at length, after infinite effort, the two parti come into actual juxtaposition, and Thirty stands fronting Thirty, each with a gun in his hand. Straightway the word “Fire” is given; and they blow the souls out of one another, and in place of sixty bril useful crafts- men, the world h: ixty dead car- cases, which it. must bury, and’ dnew shed tears .for. Had these men any quarrel? Busy as the the Geneva conference, which she-at-| devil is, not the smallest! They tended. lived far enough apart; were the Miss - Cora ‘McCarty, representing| - entirest strangers, nay, in so wide the school feachers, and Miss Ethel| a Universe there was even, uncon- Smith, representing the Women's| solously, by Commerce,.aome mu- Trade Union Leag' e, presided at the| ‘tual’ helpfuiness between them. dinner, How then? Simpieton! Their Gov- 3 e e policies. of | of the World. ernors had fallen out; and, instead of shooting one another. had the cunning to make these poor block- | heads shoot. World Longs for Peace. Back of all the present social tur- moil the struggles for the recognition | of equitable international houndarms.! {the dumb moving to and fro of the nations. there is the world-wide lun)-'.-l ing to live at peace. and 10 know that no longer can industry be dislocated | and its fruits destroyed; no more can the peasant be dragged from his plow. the workman from his bench and the {bread-winner from his fireside. in or- ider that the disputes of rulcrs and igovernments shall be settled by an 'zmwal to physical combat. Every aggressive war, throughout human_ history, has been made pos- sible by the employment of involun- tary military service. It has been the power possessed by ambitious rulers or by the centralized gov- ernments of nations lusting _for power or territory, for political or religious control.” to command the services of multitudes of men for the purpose of aggression against a national enemy and for the conduet of destructive wars in which the in- dividual has but little interest. 1t is this power to control the in voluntary service of the masses of a country which has made possible the destruction of human life and_prop- erty from the days of Tiglath-Pileser {T to Wilhelm I - An End to Standing Armies. It is obvious that if no man can bo compeled to bear arms against his will the maintenance of standing armies. at once a menace to the peace of the world and an exhausting £train on the resources of the nations maintaining them, becomes impos- sible. If the composition of the military | forces is confined to voluntary en- i listment—which would necessariky come to mean for defensive warfare only—then aggressive warfare would | cease to exist. If a man can be called upon to render voluntary mili- tary service only in defense of his own country, and this were accepted as the universal principle governing all nations as a fundamental basis of political morality, then he would never be called upon for such de- fense, as no other nation would ever attack his country. Must Be Universal The acceptance of this principle of the abolition of conscription must necessarily be universal, as . single nation disregarding it or refusing to adopt it would again precipitate the insane and crushing burden of com- petitive armaments. With its adoption. standing armies would digappear, the vast sums now capended to maintain dominating fleets would flow into the channels of commerce, education, sanitary needs and for the conserving. rather than the destruction of human life. Nothing more would be necessary than for the nations of the world in such conference or league or as- soclation as mignt be adopted to maintain small enlisted armies, as police forces, for the necessary en- forcement of the edicts of such a Jeague and for the preservation of lnw and order in the unsettled and uncivilized portions of the world. e ———— RATIFY U. S.-BRAZIL TREATY. Ratifications of a postal money order treaty between the United States and Brazil have just been ex- changed at Rio de Janeiro, according to advices received at the State De- partment. FAVORS WADSWORTH BILL. The Senate military affairs commit- tee yesterday favorably reported the Wadsworth bill, which would transfer to the American relief administration in Russia such Burplus stocks of used materials as are now held by the ‘War Department. Japanese Crown Prince May Soon Be Regent According to reports from Japan, may soon be made regent, with practical all the powers of the emperor. The condition of the emperor's health lln ;:m kept shrouded in mystery by Toklo. FLOOD OF WAR SUITS IS EXPECTED SHORTLY Claims Involving Millions Antici- pated as Aftermath of Peace Proclamation. War suits involving millions of dollars, the aftermath of the world struggle, are expected to be brought to light within a few months as a result of tha formal declaration of peace issned by President Harding. Government officials yesterday predict- ed that a_flood of lawsuits which will involve the ownership of many mil- | lions of dollars’ worth of property and securities will be flled in the courts. The Department of Justice is preparing to defend the government n a number of suits which are ex- pected to be filed, and the Attorney General will soon have to begin pass- ing on claims for return of property seized by the alien property custodian during the war. One fdrm of litigation which is ex- pected to constitute the bulk of the suits brought about by the war is a series of suits between business con- cerns and individuals of the United States and other countries. Prec- edents and outlines of court decisions in the Unit -1 States and Germany are now beTag investigated by the Department of Justice. The government now holds 35,000 trusts involving approximately $350.- 000,000, and a large part of this is expected to be returned as a result of the claims to be filed between now and spring. Some of the claims are expected to ask for Interest and the return of the principal, either in property, securities or cash, which the government has held in trust. —_— RUNS ON CHINESE BANKS. Advices to the Department of Com- merce by cable say that runs have started on the Bank of Communica- tions and the Bank of China, in Pe- king, Tientsin and Shanghai. These banks, according to the cable, have suspended redemption of gotes in Peking in excess of ten Mexican dol- lars per person, but are up to the present paying depositors checks in silver. Rallroads, telegraph offices and post offices are still accepting notes, the cable said. but some de- positors are transferring their ac- counts to forelgn banks. The situation s considered serious, the cable concluded, but Chinese bankers are striving to solve the situation. L3 NEW REPUBLIC SEEK RECOGNITION BY U. S. Commission From Federation of Central America Presents Outline of Its Arguments. BY BEN M'KELWAY. HE Federation of Central America will base its claims for recognition by this gov- ernment on three main points, according to members of the mission from Honduras, Guatemala and Sal- vador, who have come to Washing- ton to petition the State Department for some formal acknowledgement of the new republic's existence. These points are: 1. The new union is an expression of the will of the people of Central America. 2. The creation of the union will be of mutual benefit to the federation and to the United States commer- cially. 3. The union will insure permanent peace in Central America. * ¥ ¥ X Members of the mission in support of the first point declare the forma- tion of ihe Federation of Central America {8 not the victory of any political party but the successful cul- mination of ‘a century of effort on the part of the people of Central America_to combine the five states into a single republic. The failures which, until the present union, have marked the progress of this effort are accountable to the isolation of the member states brought about by the lack of communication facilities and o the machinations of political mal- contents who strove to hold a tem- porarily gained power in the inai. vidual republics. Telegraph lines and a system of roads and railways now under improvement will insure the communication necessary for soli- darity between states in the union. it is declared, while the overwhelming public sentiment in favor of its f mation wiil preciude revolutionary attempts for its overthrow. While Nicaragua_and Costa Rica have not vet joined the new republic. it is stated that the former probably will be forced into such action within a short time by the unionist party, which has gained strength there steadily since the federation's forma- tion, while the latter state, Costa Rica, only awaits the convening of her congress before she becomes a member. The new federation will be mutu- ally beneficial, commercially, to Cen- tral America and to the United States. One of the first steps contemplated by the federation is to lower per capita taxes and to cut down the expense of government maintenance. This will be accomplished through reduction of the standing armies now maintained by Guatemaia, Honduras fand Salvador and the elimination of three governmental establishments by the substitution of one directing gov- ernment. This reduction should per- mit the government to undertake im- provements and development in Cen- tral America, thus creating new reve- nues for the state and a more inviting market for American exporters and imanufacturers. Among the improve- ments contemplated are the construc !tion of railways and highways. har- ibor and port improvements. irrigation and encouragement of immigration from Europe. * ok ok ok The formation of the federation is considered a great movement toward the establishment of permanent peace in Central America, a region which has been described as.a “hot-bed of revolutionary possibilities.” As summarized by one member of the mission: “The federation is too weak to ever try war with Mexico. too strong to attempt war on Panama alone, and too weak to attempt war lon Panama under the protection of the United States, and war with Co- lombia or Cuba mpossible without a navy, and we have no navy.” There seems to be no reason why recognition of the federation by this country should be withheld. In recent speech delivered at the lunch- eon given in honor of the minister of foreign affairs of Nicaragua. Sec- INDEMNITIES AND DEBTS AS RESULT OF WORLD WAR 1 I (Continued from First Page.) tained by France at 218.000.000,000 francs. Now, it is interesting to note that before the war the total wealth of France, everything in- cluded. Jands, buildings, goods and chattels, credits abroad, etc., was not valued by her foremost econo- mists at more than 250,000,000,000 fran ‘After so many disappointments. after Germany has been forced to bear every effort and every priva- tion, even =ustaining the expense of the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine, which amounted last year to over 25,000,000,000 marks, equivalent, at par, to the expense of maintaining the joint armies of Germany, France and Italy in pre- war times, all delusions concarn- ing the possibility of the indem- nity ever being paid have defl- nitely vanquished. Despite every effort and privation, Germany can- not give more than a limited quan- tity of coal and other products—a few billions a vear at the very utmost. The condition of her cur- rency, the situation of her credit, are extremely difficult, and her sufferings so great, that only those in evil faith can deny them. * k kK The whole economic Power of Germany is based, first. on the ex- ploiting of her reserves of coal and iron, which gave an enormous development to the numerous in- dustries essentially dependent on these two elements; second, on her tariff system. which enabled her 10 defy all competition; third, on her powerful commercial organization beyond the seas. Now. as a result of the treaty of Versailles, these three great forces have been sys- tematically destroyed, completely or the most part. [ it the states which formed the entente have themselves taken the trouble to prove all the absurdity of the great indemnity. L The United States of America has loaned $4,277.000,000 to Great Britain, $2,977,000,000 to France. $1.648,000,000 to Italy, $349.000,000 to Belgium. and minor sums to her states. ‘"Grfllt Britain has loaned 557,000,000 pounds sterling to France. 561,- 000,000 to Russia. 476,000,005 Ttaly. 94,000,000 to Eelgium, 22.- 000,000 to Serbia and 66,000,000 to other states. Altogether 1,778.- 000,000 pounds sterling. Nobody doubts that France and Ttaly are honest countries, de- sirous of paying their debts. But a three-year experiegce has proved that in spite of the greatest good will none of the countries of the entente has hitherto been able to pay its interallied debts and not even the interest. Great Writain alone would be in a posi- tion, by a great effort, to pay her debt to the United States; on the other hand, she is the creditor of France and Italy for sums much larger than those which she owes to the United States of America. France and Italy, even with the best disposition in the world, will never be able to pay their foreign debts, and the situation of their exchange is already such as to constitute a standing menace for the future. * * % Since the war France has in- creased her territory and her colo- nies, has realized credits from Germany_ and obtained rolling stock and cattle; she has annexed | | | ¢ a retary of State Hughes made state- ments which have been interpreted as indicating a favorable attitude on his pait toward the new union, and officials of the State Department are represented as having unofficially ex- pressed themselves as eeing no oh- | stacle in the way of recognitio: The present mission hopes to obtain recognition from the United States in the exchange of formal messages between the federation and this gov- ernment. The second step will be fo frame a treaty of commerce and amity, which probably will be drawn up by the federal council, the mem- bers of which will assume office next January. * k% % Argentina may be expected to u dertake the enlargement of her mer- chant marine to bring It to a size pro- portionate to her economic i tance and her extensive coast line, cording 10 informat which has reached Washington and which re- flects, it is stated. a growing pub! opinion in the Argentine in favor of the development of a | ¢chant marine. l‘ Brazil and Chile are making strides n stronger mer- their commercial progress, it is stated, which is somewhat disquiet- ing 1o Argentina. The mercantile strength of her chief rivals in & America probably will lead to an ef- fort on her part to build a merchant marine which will be larger, than that of Chile and Bra * % k * The commercial intelligence bu- reau of the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce has just com- pleted a detailed study of Brazilian firms and the market for Americar products, made with the idea in view of giving practical aid to American manufacturers and exporters in de- veloping a Brazilian market Reports received in the last two months, it is stated. indicate the Bra- zilian market has improved and the steps taken by the government to fight the commercial depression and stabilize exchange have proved effec- tive. In making the detailed study of the individual business firms and the im- portant business centers of Brazil the American consuls in Rio de Ja- neiro, Sao Paulo, Para, Pernambuco. Porto Alegre and Bahia were called upon to submit commercial reports on the important business firms in their respegtive cities. As a result approximately 2.000 repor ontain- ing much valuable information con- cerning individual firms, were re- ceived. These reporis contain infor- mation which could be obtained only by a representative on the grouud and which exporters should posses. before entering into negotiations with foreign firms This great amount of information has been indexed according to the commodities in which the ious firms are interested. From this index. new and_so-called “starred commor- ity lists” have been indicated. which relative importance and size the merchants have been designat by one, two and three i 1In sec: in of ing the information. an effort was made to secure only the names of merchants who it is believed from data at hand_would make desirable customers. The information is now available to American business men The study of the Brazilian market under the direction of the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce, is another indication of the manner in which this organization, under Dr. Julius Klein, its director. is helping the American business man 1o de- velop his market in South America The bureau is doing a work which could not be duplicated by a pri organization, and its worth is g ually becoming appreciated. * ok ok * has_been raised small quantities for attractive prices for this commodity recently has led to planting on an extensive scale and this vear Nicaragua for the first time is exporting cotton in moderate quan- tities. Practically all the cotton was | shipped to Barcelona. while a small | amount went to Manchester. ! ! _While cotton aragua in several vears. numerous German possessions. dis- posed of important raw materials such as iron and potash, and has augmented her merchant fleet. Nevertheless, | Italy. who got very little out of her terrible war. she” has not been able to return a single franc to her creditors or to pay a franc of interest on the British and American louns. The European countries of the entente have proved that ail th ridiculous and fantastic reques announced at the time of the Pari: conference were nothing but an exaltation of violence, as harmful 10 the victors s to the vanquished And now a sense of uneasiness and anxiety prevaile, The European countries of tne entente are not even able to pay the interests on the debts they have incurred, and the delusion is still widely spread in Belgiuw and, above all.’in France that German, in_her present ruined condit will be in a position to pay enor- mous indemuities. Nobody dares to ask anything from Austria, from Hungary, from Turkey or from Bulgaria for fear. especially in the case of Austri of having to help the impover- ished population, which cannot continue to lve in its present con- dition of horrible distress and misery. * ok % K History has its ironies. and the allies of Europe, by not paving their debts or the interest thereon. have taken upon themselves to prove that the terrible indemnity which Germany was to pay for a period of thirty years, besides bearing the enormous expense of the military controls, was nothing but a deadly delusion. ‘We are now groping in the dark. vainly seeking for a solution tn the problem, as the ruin of the losers would mean the ruin of the victors on the European continent And in the midst of so much vio- lence, so much hatred, so many errors, more humane voices—th: voices of wisdom and moderation— begin to be heard. Europe already feels the need of a new life which shall unite win- ners and losers in the bonds of new solidarity after so much suf- fering and such an orgy of death (Copyright, 1821.) WOULD RETAIN POSITIONS Railway Directors Object to Serv- ing One Road Oniy. Applications of three prominent New York men to retain their places on the board of directors of more than one railroad were filed yesterday with the Interstate Commerce Com- mission. At the same time the com- mission had before it an aplication on behalf of Fairfax Harrison, president of the Southern railway. and the en- tire board of directors and officers of the road to retain their position: Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York filed aplication to hold positions as director of the Illinois Central, De aware and Hudson, Missouri Pacific, Philippine Railway and American Ex- press Compan; Robert Goelet of Chester, N. applied for per- mission to_hold directorships in the Southern Pacific and the Wabash railways. F. W. Vanderbilt of New York applied for permission to hold dir torships in the New York Central rail- road and fourteen subsidiaries of that road and the Chlcugo and Northe eastern and one subsidiary. » L