Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-16
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Disarmament-or,t to be exact, reduc-
ton of armaments-is at last coming
: to the front in Congress as concrete
remedy for the financial and economic
crisis which the whole world faces.
1t is beginning to be realized in the
National Capital that the way to re-
and the way to sell cotton and wheat
and other commodities abroad is to
make it possible for foreign countries
to pay for our exports. The demand
duced, and the outcry of the farmers
and cotton growers that foreign mar
kets be provided has brought out the
fact that the whole world situation is
money that must be spent on war
making apparatus and personnel.
From Senator Borah, one of the lead
:. ers of the group of 'irreconcilables
which has been opposed to any sort
of internationalism, comes the latest
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States to limit the size of ornaments.
simultaneously the assembly of the
league of nations at Geneva takes ac-
ton recommending TO various govern
ments the reduction of ornaments.
Specific Suggestion.
Behind the action Of the league at
Geneva is an even more specific sug-
gestion from the financiers of the
world, who met at Brussels recently
and considered how the world Situa-
ton might be improved and normal
trade restored. The text of its recon-
,mendation is pertinent to the present
move in Congress.
: 1.-The first STEP" says the omc1ai
Recommendation of the conference.
sis to bring public opinion in every
country to realize the essential facts
of the situation. and particularly the
need of re-eStablishing public finances
the execution of those social reforms
which the world demands.
= Nearly every government is being
pressed to incur fresh expenditure
largely on palliatves which aggravate
the very evils against which they are
: directed The country which accepts
the policy of budget deficits is treading
the slippery path which leads to general
ruin. To escape from that path no sac
<rifice is too great
1.-The statements presented to the
conference show that on an average
some 20 per cent Of the national ex
tpenditure is stin being devoted to the
maintenance Of ornaments and to prep
5arations for war. The conference de-
<Eires to affirm with the utmost en-
expenditure. Only by. a frank policy
: Of mutual cooperation can the nations
hope to regain their old prosperity, and
TO secure that result the whole resources
OF each country must be devoted strict
ly to productive purposes. The confer
: ence accordingly recommends most
earnestly to the council Of the league Of
nations the desirability of comforting at
once with the several governments con-
<cerned with view to securing a general
burden Of ornaments which. on their
existing scale, still impose on the i'm
<poverished people Of the world, sapping
their resources and importing their
recovery from the ravages Of war. The
<conference hopes that the assembly Of
the league viii take energetic action to
this end"
= Asse2bFy Has Acted.
:; The assembly Of the league has taken
action. 1t first asked the United States
70 send unomctal representatives, but
President Wilson declined ON the ground
mat america had not entered the league
81 nations. But proposals have arisen
from Senator Walsh Of Montana, demo-
.craf, and Senator BoIah. republican, of
Idaho TO- bring about international
a&reement on armameHts just the same.
Tnefe n some eu8gestion here that
WIN use as an excuse to retain their
ornaments the fact that the most now
>effm nation Of all-the Omitted Stafes-
refuses to join. Secretary Daniels has
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES = Dig naval 00ll0anK OfO.
gram and Secretary Baker has propoeed
= large army. an on tina theory that until
fhere Is intexHAtional agreement it ia
1m.s1e for America, 70 take fhe initia-
President-s5ee4 Harding 10 COM
united to . teduc<1on ofc rmaunenf.
HIS campaign speeches a. wen al the
Sepublhcan platform have urxed ia
There's q provtsion on the statute
books today which aothorfxes tie
Ptesident Of the United States to cali
IN international conferences ON dis
armament. Mr.. Wilson didn't avail
hamself Of this privilege because he
hoped to accomplish the Same thing
through the special armament com.
mission OF the, league Of nations. to
Wn1ch America was recently invited
% send delegates.
V1tally Affects Tnx1tion.
Tho subject IL passing out Of the
realm OF the academic because ft 40
vitality Affects taxation and domestic
prosperity. Omcials and economists
insist that II a general program Of
reducing ornaments could be aRreed
uDon the following things would
probably happen:
Income taxes would be reduced be-