The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-07
by RENE yIyIANI.
Former Premier of France.

Former Premier of France.
Paris, Feb. IA grave question In
conn ection with the problem of the fu-
ture maintenance of national armies
is whether to the active army of each
nation should be allowed to be an
added army OF reserve.
This is a vital matter, calling for
caution. For 1t is here that a loophole
might present itself to a perfdi"us ma
tion. History teaches US the necessity
Of caution on this score. In the treaty
OF Tilsit. Napoleon stipulated that
Prussia should not maintain more than
$4,000 men. Frederick william ac-
cepted this clause. but by his method
of recruiting actually sent nearly
1900 men to the colors. keeping them
ready for war. Indeed, there were Of
ficialiy $4,000 soldiers in the Prussian
army, but Frederick through his trick
cry managed to train thrice that num-
Der. 1t Is necessary to be always on
the ''aui vive% for the repetition of
such "A fraud.
IT IL therefore necessary to be on
the watch lest some nation get around
the International military regulations
while appearing to respect their form.
1t Is necessary 10 look out lest in the
schools and educational organizations
some nation does not enroll and train
for war numerous militia units which
TO It's regular army.
Unwise to ExngEerate.
However, II would be unwise 70 ex-
aggerate this danger, In these times,
az Germany's case has proven. even
vast trained forces and accumulated
ornaments are insufficient. A block
AIDE of foodstuffs and raw materials
forces the best armed country to its
knees, Moreover. unless we suppose
that the entire population OF coun-
try is an accomplice to the sanguinary
trick of it's government. that Its entire
parliament remains blind. deaf and
dumb and that Its press is completely
bound conspiracy of silepcs--unless
we suppose these things we may
count upon protests within the nation
whose government proceeds In the
/ manner alluded to. That protest acts
as the first check on such procedure.
! But electives are not everything
There are ornaments and latent, hid
; den scientific means with which the
spirit Of man may be corrupted for ag-
gression The number OF warships
and submarines still useful. the guam
titles OF ammunition and explosives
the number OF cannon, the war ma
terial factories-an these things must
be kept open and above board for al
the world to see and keep under con-
troll
! Under whose contro1+ Here enters
tho question Of an inter allied high
command. ] do not believe II neces'
sary to choose generalissimo in ad.
vance The location Of a conflict might
determine the choice OF commander
lir-chief. But A permanent inter-alliet
military stan Ia necessary. The duties
of such a stan both I'm time of war and
peace will be formidable, The mos
capable and the most watchful gen
sS ri
stan which foresees. forestalls. ant
executes In this compiexity of mod
ern military affairs stan work re
Iouires q marvellous system. time, ira
ditions and special training. AS IA
IA possible, this stan ought to receive
tho same instruction In order to hav'
the same conceptions. Each countr!
might contribute to this, and through
an exchange Of ideas and suggestions
different methods might be assimilate,
and systematized
stan ana Permanent Chfef.
Tie stan win be composed of dele
gates from each state under = perma
nent chief The iatter's duty will b.
to supervise all military affairs and h
must have the supreme right Of in
spection under the control OF the So
prsrne council to which body he shall
be responsible.
Now. what Of the financial organi
ration. Personally. I regret that
was not under this aspect that the ide:
OF society Of nations first appeared
before the public. Had this been TIL
case. we might have been spared tn
mockery and ridicuie which impoten
.kepticism always heaps upon unpleas
|, ant realities.
IT is particularly for financial rea
!, sons that tho nations must band to
gether. They are all at the limit o
? TTv-nr h,,dr 90
which before the war was 100000
francs, now almost reaches the sun
Of a0on. 900 francs 1t Is possible I,
lforesec IL sailing even more than tn
growing expenditures. and 1t would h
> reckless to fail to anticipate the weigh
: Of taxes which the future must bring
How are we to meet them- To b.
sure. the central powers in turn ow
us war indemnities. IT is necessary I,
a collect these and the occupation o
/ enemy country will last until the Grim
, inal hand has liquidated the disaste
! which II brought upon the world.
Dasis For Discussion.
I, for one, see but one system tina
, offers basis for discussion. 1t !
, this:
Each allied state establishes It
budget the same as at the outbreal
: OF the war. Additional expenditures
; that is, expenses incurred since tn
: respective nations entry into the wal
are then apportioned "a payable b
all nations. These nations establish
: an inte-nationa bank OF issue who's
, bills will be legal tender In all o
: the associated nations. Since they ar
= accepted everywhere, these bills will
have the same value as gold.
Then the associated nations impos
: universal taxes on materials. TIL
!; central powers pay three or four @
even FIVE times as much AZ the othe
| nations on each tax. This would no
prevent them from paying in addition
. other indemnities, mostly In the forp
xaf araaferiaI9 iron coal luuafsex etc