News of the Week The Naval Conference T HE opening of
the Naval Conference on Tuesday was the occasion of an unparalleled appeal to the con- science and reason of the world, made audible by wireless to many millions of listeners. The King's speech was brief but impressive, and everybody was delighted to see how unexpectedly well His Majesty looked and how strong and clear was his voice. The speeches of all the principal delegates were what we should have desired. There was not in any one of tkem a note of obstruction or triviality or of backwardness in a desire to serve a great ideal. When that has been said we have to admit that the technical difficulties of agreement are most formidable in their range and complexity. We have discussed these in a leading article, and will say here only that the most remarkable phenomenon of recent years has been the growth of public opinion in regard to war. It is now felt in the English-speaking countries that war is an avoidable thing. * *
