THE AMERICAN PROGRAM

With the publication in yesterday's transcript of the substance of President Harding's sixteen points, we come at last to some of the definite issues which are to be discussed at Washington. The United States is still talking the lead; it is the first nation definitely to commit itself. This is a fact which should be borne in mind by those who are inclined to criticize President Harding's policy. It is expressly stated that the program is offered principally as a starting point for discussion.

Yet those who have held too great hopes for the Conference are bound to be disappointed when they read those of the sixteen points which have to do with limitation of armaments. There are nine of these; only two of them make any proposals concerning the reduction of navies. One suggests a cessation during a definite period of years of all naval construction; but this is qualified by a clause excepting vessels built to replace obsolete war ships-certainly an important reservation. The other, which at least has the virtue of expediency, would effect an immediate reduction of naval expenditure by the scrapping of vessels no longer useful in modern warfare.

The program thus presented is hardly so idealistic in its aims that the other nations will be likely to withdraw from the Conference. Those who have not taken seriously the constant hints from the White House that the Conference will not result in the realization of any Utopian dreams, will be rather rudely forced to admit that there is no talk of reduction and a little of limitation in these proposals.

It is quite time that it is hopeless to think of reducing armaments without first removing the cause of war. President Harding is to be commended in emphasizing the importance of the Far Eastern question, and it is significant that he attacks this problem with much greater boldness. He comes out definitely for the open door in China and the abolition of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.

There will probably be much dissatisfaction at the weakness of that part of the program which has to do with armaments. Much of it will be justified, particularly when it is discovered that it promises little relief from our present burden of taxation. But let those who doubt the sincerity of the Conference and are therefore inclined to take President Harding's program as an indication that their suspicions are not unfounded, exercise a little foresight--they may see that palpable reduction of armaments can come only after the settlement of the Eastern question; and they may find cause for satisfaction in President Harding's boldness in this direction, realizing that concrete proposals in this matter will lead to concrete results in the reduction of armaments.