Peacemakers—Blessed and Otherwise Observations, Reflections and Irritations at an International Conference

In these pages the reader follows a candid, week‑by‑week chronicle of one observer’s experience at the Washington Conference on armament limitation in 1921‑22. Rather than a polished diplomatic history, the manuscript reads like a personal notebook, alternating between earnest hope for lasting peace and wry irritation at the ceremony’s endless negotiations. From the moment the delegates gather, the author sketches the atmosphere of optimism, skepticism, and the peculiar mix of public idealism and private cynicism that colors the event.

The chapters capture each day’s mood—pre‑conference musings, Armistice Day reflections, and vivid portraits of the French, Chinese, and other diplomats. The writer humorously exposes the gap between lofty promises—“take the guns away from the children”—and the hard‑won reality that limiting armaments involves deep political compromises. Readers will recognise a voice that is both critical and compassionate, pointing out the absurdities of grand treaties while acknowledging the small successes that keep the idea of peace alive.