The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-03
NEED TECHNICAL ADVICE
Sit at Meeting in Consultative
Capacity Only.
VIII Make Plan To Be Sub
mitted to the Assembly.

Washington, Dec. 3.-An invitation
from the League of Nations for United
States participation in elaboration on
disarmament was received at the state
department today.
The invitation said that the league
wanted representative of the United
States to ''sit in a consultative capacity
on the permanent military, naval and
air commission
Not To Be Binding.
The invitation made plain that
American participation in the confer
ence would not bind the country or in
terfere with the liberty of action.
Nevertheless, it was stated, the par
ticipation of the United States would
be an important factor in the success
of the work.
The invitation follows: 1.-The coun-
ell of the League of Nations. acting on
an unanimous recommendation of the
permanent military. naval and air
commission of the league, passed at
it's meeting in Geneva on November
Is. invites the government of the
United States to name representatives
| to sit on that commission in a consul
tative capacity during the study by the
commission of the question of the re-
The council has requested the commits
| sion to undertake forthwith.
Want Technical Advice.
1.-The permanent advisory commits
| sion was constituted by the council of
| the league at its meeting in Rome last
| May and held its first session at the
| San Sebastian in August. The COM
| mission is at present composed of mill
| itary. naval and aerial officers of
| states represented on the council of
| the league. Its decisions are purely
advisory and not in any sense binding,
| but they represent the committee on
| technical judgment.
| 1T would, of course, be perfectly
understood that the presence of the
Representatives of the United States
would in no way commit the American
government to what ever opinions may
be finally put forward in the report
/ of the commission. Nor, indeed, can
THAT report itself be more than a basis
for the consideration by members of
1.-THE league of the measures for reduc-
tons in ornaments which united &C.
ton may enable them to achieve.
Il VIII Facilitate Solution.
Nevertheless, just as in the case of
the financial conference at Brussels,
1.-The presence of an American repre-
of giving and receiving information
was an important factor in the sue
cess of the work of the conference. so
it cannot be doubted that the general
lCOnSlOGTdIlOn
II duction of ornaments will be greatly
II facilitated If the government of the
II United States can see its way to be
Represented in a similar manner, at
1.-The meeting of the permanent advisory
CON mission.
THE problem is one to which pubic
opinion in all countries attaches the
highest Importance.
4 Assures Liberty of Action.
i at is unnecessary to point out that
| the reduction of armaments is essen
tial for the well being of the world and
| that unless some measures of relief
can be found by international cooper
alton for the excessive taxation due to
ornaments, the general economic sit
! uation must become increasingly
! worse.
1.-The council in extending this invs-
Ltation cannot but hope that the gov
| eminent of the United States particu-
| larly in view of the attitude of Amer
| lea around the question of the COM
petition in ornaments, will not refuse
| to associate itself with the govern
| ments of the members of the league
in beginning the preliminary work
necessary to ultimate success and to
| lend to the present effort an assist
ance which can in no way encroach
upon it's own perfect liberty of action"