New-York tribune., 1920-11-21
Bel lgia11na " ants
Military Force
Behind League
Resolution Providing for
an international Army
and Staff Is Introduced
by Senator La Fonfa;ne
Eoo Soon Yc2 TO E}isarss,
Case of Armenia L. Cited az
an Example Of the Ncces-
sity for Martial Action
Special Gable to The Trtbuns


Copyright, 1920, New York Tribune Inc
GENEVA, Nov. 2O.-Senator Henri
La Fontane, the Belgian pacifst dele
gate to the League of Nations Assembly.
arising at this mornings session, de-
clared that he had acquired the ,onvic-
lion that the time was not ripe for tho
disarmament of the world. He exnrcsscd
belief that the league would be comnellcd
to enforce its decisions by force Of
arms.
The nations, therefore, the Belgian
Senator argued, should place armed
FORCES at the disposition Of the league.
He advocated the appointment by the
league of general staff to study the
problems of attack and defense. lust as
individual stats now do for their own
countries.
La Fontaine's proposition was all the
more remarkable rs coming from the
president of the Belgian Peace Society.
and one who had received the Nobel.
peace prize.
Holds Disarmament Premature
think must tell the people
frankly that the time for disarmament
raS not come, and that those wi,o drew
UP the Treaty Of Versailles were ner-
fectly aware of this" NJ. La Fontaine
SAID. in the clause dealing with dis
armament 1t IS expressly said that ar
mamonts shall be reduced. In order
that this reduction may begin the world
must acquire new ideas about war.
War must be storoed The world must
acquire the idea that war is crime
and must be 50 regarded in interna-
tional law. 1t must acquire tho ;da,
that nation which goes to war. even
with a just cause, must be regarded as
commit ne a crime.
Il have said the time has not come
,or disarmament" he continued "Rnt
The time is here when national armed
forces should be made available to un-
hold right and justice. Our special
commission for land, sea and air forces
''ANr" 'NOn az tiiN iUtStiOu III tt1lS 1plt.
Only in this way will the league cease
TO remain in it's present pathetic posi-
ton.
"Thnk Of only one of the terrible
world dramas now going on. Armenia
is dying. This people of millions of
souls is being destroyed before the
eyes of the League of Nations COM
posed of forty-one states with millions
Of armed men and whose ships are
!y'ns at Constantinope, but a few
steps from the places where these un-
happy people are being massacred.
lher. are no technical difficulties in
the way of saving Armenia and fnan-
cial difficulties could be overcome. Ali
we lack is the will to stop this fearful
drama. This viii be the acid test for
the league and of league power"
Plea Generally Supported
La Fontanes speech follows the
recognition by the league of the abso
lutte necessity of troops in the Polish
lithuanian dispute. His plea for a
league army has the support of LARGE
section OF the assembly, including
France. .
The final assembly session of the
week was attended by debates on va
rlety Of subjects, ranging from the
argument against disarmament to the
petition of fifteen countries that Span-
lsh be accepted along with English
and French as one Of the official Ian
guages Of the assembly.
fursulng the debatc or disarmament,
Continued paus four