AMERICA MUST TAKE INITIAL ACTION IN DISARMAMENT

"The world's gaze rests on the actions of America". Such was the pith of convincing argument in favor of American initiative in the matter of disarmament, made by Mr. Frederick J. Libby, Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Reduction of Armaments, in a recent interview for the CRIMSON. Mr. Libby is a graduate of Bowdoin and has also studied abroad. He has lived in many European and Asiatic countries, has been engaged in relief work in Europe, and was in intimate touch with the recent events of the Washington Conference.

He voiced a stirring appeal to the United States to retain her place of leadership among the countries of the world and take the lead in nation-wide disarmament--a lead so auspiciously begun at the Conference. "Japan is now torn in conflict over the question of reduction of armaments. France is undecided as to what policy it is safe for her to adopt. Italy, oppressed already by problems of the most vital nature, is willing to go as far as the other nations will let her. Even England is still hesitant. They are all watching America to see what she will do about it. They are all willing to cut their military strength by one half if only our country will take the initiative. It is up to the United States to set the pace.

America Enjoys Prestige

"America now enjoys a high degree of prestige as a result of the Conference. She stepped to the front then in a manner that took the delegates' breath away. At first they were aghast at the suddenness of the move, but they were not slow to applaud enthusiastically the representative of the nation that chose to lead toward peace, and to back him to the limit. The present question is--What next? Will the United States follow up the success of the past three months? If the senate now cuts our army and navy in half the whole world will applaud and fall in line, and again America will be hailed as the leader. The eyes of millions are centered on the Capitol Hill in Washington. Will we live up to expectations?"

The immense significance of the Conference as a factor in future world peace is, according to Mr. Libby, well illustrated in the virtual settlement of our past difficulties with Japan, and the dissipation of that ominous war-cloud which for many years has hung between the two nations. "I didn't realize the magnitude of the achievements of the Washington Conference", he went on to say, "until the next to the last session when I heard Mr. Hughes present the request of the American delegation to Japan. A new understanding has come between the two nations. We don't want the Japanese to stay in Siberia and we have told them so in frank words that all the world has heard. We want the remnant of the twenty-one demands, not yet abrogated, to be repudiated and have told them that, too, before the world. They have replied in diplomatic language to the effect that they are not yet prepared to leave Siberia, and that they will deal with the rest of the twenty-one demands as a matter that concerns China and themselves. Yet we are not going to fight about it. The significance of this frank declaration from both sides is that neither in the eyes of Japan nor of America did it mean war. The naval treaty was the greatest step forward towards future peace that has ever been taken, and the naval treaty made a rupture with Japan impossible during the period of the naval holiday."

"Our people have not yet grasped the greatness of this conference. They thought Harding was exaggerating when he dwelt in glowing terms on the magnitude of its achievements. America cannot now compel Japan to do what she wants. We have voluntarily laid down the power, and can only lay our case before justice and the bar of world opinion. And the act was voluntary--opinion. And the act was voluntary--purely on our own initiative. The greatest of the nations has led the way towards peace and has laid down her aggressive art. That is the great achievement of the Conference.

"Many believe that Japan is now free to reap the fruits of her power in the Far East. It is not true! That nation in the future daring to brave the storm of world opinion will surely come to grief. Condemnation at the hands of all mankind is what made Germany sick at heart; it is what will bring France to terms; and it will have its influence on Japan. Universal censure is sufficient to quell the proudest nation, and Japan will soon vacate Siberia and conform to world opinion".

Sounds Warning Note

Mr. Libby sounded a warning note in regard to the attitude of the Senate on the necessary treaty ratifications. "The Conference is not over", he declared. "It is a futile thing till the treaties are ratified. And the country is overwhelmingly in favor of immediate ratification. The farmers want the army and navy appropriations slashed, because when this bill has been paid no money remains for purposes that are vital to their welfare. The workers want the army and navy appropriations slashed for the same reason. A great nation like ours ought to be able in times of national unemployment to build necessary roads, canals and public buildings, and our Army and Navy so cramp us that we can do none of these things. Business men want the army and navy appropriations slashed, because taxes are sucking the life-blood of our national prosperity. Our representatives in Congress will make no mistake in the eyes of their constituents if they cut the army and navy appropriations to $400,000,000, and thus become able to point to an economy that will be visible without a microscope, while at the same time finding a few millions for things the people want. In view of the present state of public opinion, it would be a false and deliberate betrayal of the country should the Senate fail to approve these treaties".