. It would be unjust to our own people, however,
not to add that the vast majority of Americans have entirely misunderstood the British point of view. Both the :British Government and the Admiralty delegates were intensely in earnest about the Three Power Conference. :Before it was known here that Mr. Coolidge was going to issue his invitation, the Admiralty had already prepared a complete scheme of naval limitation. Our delegates went to Geniva never doubting that the Conference would be successful. They had exceptional reasons for confidence, for their proposals were admirable. The scheme for reducing the tonnage of battleships and large cruisers, for reducing gun-power, and for extending the life of ships, would have effected immense economy, and would have usefully proved to nations -outside the Conference how anxious Great Britain was to discard all lust after great fighting strength. We are sure that the genuineness of the British intentions and the extremity of the disappointment of • our delegates are generally unknown in the United States. There has been a mis- understanding, and it should be the object of every friend of peace to remove it.
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