The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
1SARM FOE
WORLD
FRENCH SAY
kaady to Join Move After
! E0emany's Concealed
Weapons Taken.


n,ris. Dec. 31.-Marsbal Foch
rnbmitted to the council Of am
lors his report on the prog
- nade by Germany toward dis
uuanent, it was understood here
61ay.
Georges Leygues, president OF
e council of ministers OF the
gsnch republic, conferred with the
irbassadors Of Great Britain and
Snly concerning the matter yes
Rday, and 1t is believed the Brit
y and Italian governments will
~ asked to agree to an urgent set
nent Of the problem. 1t is prob
- that an allied conference rel
6rRs to the situation will be called.
Disarm Foe First.
yaris, Dec. 31.-(United Press }
ptance will be glad to join in an
irrational conference ,on dis
aments when German pockets
I've been emptied of concealed
1stcls," the French foreign office
jpld the United Press today.
A high oficial declared France
kocsetly had begun partial disarm-
amont but developments in Ger
10y made it impossible to proceed
piA that program.
III the United States will join
= forcing Germany to empty her
7pekets of concealed pistols,
1tlnce will be delighted to join in
i general disarmament scheme"
~ official said today.
An agreement would be of tre-
lndous benefit, freeing the
usses from the terrific burden Of
1ntion. But there can be no
naght Of disarmament until Ger
ny disarms.
Had Halted ProgFan.
1rance had halted her naval pro-
kram. be declared, and begun re-
ucing her military program when
% German foreign minister re-
|sed the allied demand that he
arm the Bavarian civil guard.
Aving cut compulsory military
ice to IS MONTHS" he said
ylnce was the first world power
ually to begin carrying Out
misses of disarmament"
ne French press refrained
N comment today on the Ger
p situati N, the government hav:
requested 1t. 1t was feared the
Nntry might be stirred too great.
In view of the recent resigna.
= Of Minister Of War Lefevre
mayed at Frances refusal to
rry on extensive war prepara-
ms.
II Harding for Disarmament.
Marion, Ohio, Dec. 31.-(United
ess.) = Steps toward gradual
MD disarmament will be taken
President-elect Harding early in
Administration, according to au.
eritative information here today
One move may be suggestion
d world powers organize a dis
nament congress to work out q
NAeme which will be generally &C.
eptable.
! Disarmament occupies a prom.
|inent place in Harding's plan fol
q association Of nations. The sub.
pect has figured prominently in
several Of his most important con.
ferences here recently and he is
known to be convinced that some
method Of checking tn race fol-
afger navies must be found.
Japan Favors Plan.
Reports reaching here are that
eat Britain and Japan, on cer-
~ conditions, could be induced to
y In the project. Japan, accord
to information given to Hard
3 during his recent conferences
spending a heavy proportion ol
81 revenue on military and naval
mament and would welcome with
iieI some equitable agreement
hereby she could reduce this ex-
pditure.
onsressional leaders most IA
ar with the situation are
srstood to have recommended to
ang that he take action to-
= securing an agreement be-
IN leading powers to limit con-
ctlon work already under way
iay NO new keels.
arding, however, has declared
reii natly Tor a navy suf.cient
otect the American merchant
and afford a dependable de-
Q American shores.