Current Events 
U. S. A. 
tj The Washington Conference for the Limitation of Armaments con¬ 
tinued to be the main political and economic event during the past 
weeks. In spite of considerable pessimism as to the ultimate results 
to follow the discussion, the belief prevails that the outgrowth is bound 
to prove a powerful anti-war factor, and that the United States has 
placed itself in the very forefront of nations read}^ to make limited 
armament a fact. ^ The proposal of Secretary Hughes for the scrap¬ 
ping of a certain number of battleships in a ratio calculated to give 
each power the proper proportion found the Japanese hesitating as to 
whether there should be acceptance of the plan. However, the begin¬ 
ning for such limitation and the institution of a ten-year naval holiday 
with regard to further building, are considered to be steps ahead in the 
warfare against war. €J The speech of Premier Briand of France, in 
defense of France’s policy for a standing army of considerable pro¬ 
portions, was criticized and commented upon variously. Opinion 
gathered strength, however, that the French were unduly agitated 
with regard to the possibility of Germany planning a fresh attack on 
her neighbor when opportunity presented itself. ^ The series of 
articles in the New York Times on “Woodrow Wilson as I Knew 
Him,” by Joseph P. Tumulty, Secretary to the former President, were 
in the nature of revelations by one who stood close to Mr. Wilson both 
during his presidency and before. Mr. Tumulty’s account is replete 
with interesting incidents and comes as one further explanation of the 
position of the United States in the Great War. CJ As the Conference 
correspondent of the New York World and the Chicago Tribune , 
H. G. Wells is contributing a series of articles that are attracting wide 
attention because of the independent standpoint taken by this English 
writer. Mr. Wells’ reputation as a novelist and world-citizen is so well 
established that his opinion of the Conference is being examined with 
interest alike by those who follow his way of thinking and those opposed 
to his theory. CJA movement is under way to establish a $1,000,000 
memorial to Enrico Caruso and as a tribute to his art by the Caruso 
American Memorial Association. Paul D. Cravath is the chairman of 
the permanent national committee. Mrs. Caruso has been named 
honorary vice-chairman. CJ The week of December 4-10 was set aside 
by President Harding as Education Week for efforts to reduce illit¬ 
eracy in the United States. The proclamation issued by the President 
was to the effect that more than 5,000,000 boys and girls in America 
were not availing themselves of the free school advantages here, and it 
was suggested that the pulpit, press, schools, and public gatherings 
enlist in this campaign to induce a greater attendance by children of 
all races and in all classes. 
