New-York tribune., 1920-12-11
General Bliss
Declares for
Disarmament
No Enduring Peace Associa-
ton Possible While Ma
tions Are Armed to Teeth,
He Tells Conference
Wants u. S. to Take Lead
Suggests That Proposition
Be Made to Europe to Set
q Date to End Militarism

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. TO- General
Tssker H. Bliss, in an address at the
Philadelphia Public Ledger Peace Con-
ference Forum here tonight, suggested
that the United States take the lead in
definite proposal ard demand for q
reasonable limitation of armament"
If refusal Of European nations to
abide by their agreement in the peace
treaty should force tre United States
also to continue in the mad race for
ermaments, General Bliss said, the
time might come when they would have
more fear of the United States than
they have had of themselves.
II think it lies with you," the Gen.
kral said to his audience, whether we
shall take this momentous step. And
hope that you will feel as / do that
we shall be recreans to our duty to
humanity if we do no. take that step"
General Bliss, who was member Of
Che American Peace Commission, spoke
On the limitations of armaments.
The situation in Russia was un-
6oubtedly great obstacle to interna-
tional disarmament, General Bliss said,
and unless the world united to employ
eSms against that country he knew Of
nothing to do but wait tin that prob
Sem solved itself.
No Peace While Armed
"Those of you are mistaken who may
think that peace can be an enduring
and effective association of the ma
tlons for the maintenance of peace so
long as those nations are armed to the
teeth solely against each other" said
the General. "And those are mistaken
who think that, so long as the pres
ent military system exists. there can
be any successful international court
Of arbitration.
I'VE are saying to the world, eve do
not wish to join in any formal asso-
citation with you because we fear it
will not make for our peace, but war;
They are saying TO us, we want you
because without you there can be no
continued peace Why should not
the United States say to the nations,
we will take you at your word and
will test it to decide it's worth Will
you, the nations that accepted the
preamble to the military peace terms
with Germany, sign this further docu-
ment with US?
Fortiications Not a Menace
Owe will agree with you that each
nation that SO desires shall keep and
build whatever frontier and coas.
: Notifications it wishes. Fortifcations
cannot stride across the earth, devas-
tating fields and destroying cities.
"'We will agree with you that each
nation may maintain its navy. No
navy without an army can conquer and
hold foreign territory.
1--WE will agree with you on a date
when we shall simultaneously abolish
any military system which is solely
necessary for international war.
"'We will agree with you on date.
a. remote as the existing conditions
make absolutely necessary, when WI
shall begin the gradual reduction of our
armed forces until they are at the
limit necessary for the maintenance of
internal order.
1--WE will agree with you on the
proper amounts of material to be kent
on nand for the reduced forces. and we
VIII further agree with you to ce.se
tne manufacture of material until the
amounts now on hand are reduced to
Tnat we agree upon as necessary for
the reduced forces.'''