Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-04
LEAGUE ASKS i. S.
AID IN DETERMINING
REDUCTION IN ARMS
No Decision on Request
Yet, State Department
Announces.
COUNCIL ACTS UPON URGE
OF MILITARY COMMISSION
Americas Part in Conference
Merely Consultative, De-
clares Communication.
WILL NOT BIND THIS NATION
Tributc Paid to Governments Par.
ticipntion in Financial Confer
cncc Held i'm Brussels.
COUNCIL ACTS UPON URGE
OF MILITARY COMMISSION
WILL NOT BIND THIS NATION
Tribute Paid to Governments Par.
ticipntion i'm Financial Confer
cncc Held i'm Brussels.
[By Assoclntcd prcss. /

WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-Thc invi-
'ation of the league OF nations that
me United states name a delegate
l" SIT in consultative capacity with
III. league commission on armamcn.
WAS received today at the state De-
partm"ni. Officials there said tho
soNernm mcnt had not yet come to n
utcision on the question of repre-
schtation on the commission
Inc text Of the invitation from the
league follows:
Ihc council of the league of ma
tons acting on unanimous recon-
mehdation OF the permanent mill
'arE' naval and air commission NJ
the league. Hasscd at its rncctin.- +,
Geneva, on November %. inyites ,ba
government Of the United states Ia
name representatives to sit on thn
commission In a consultative cap,ci,v
during the study by the commission
or the question of the reduction or
ornaments. a study which the corr
c!i has requested the commisslo, IN
undertake forthwith.
Decisions Are Advisory
ih' permanent advisory commits,
SION Was constituted by the council OF
'he !taEnc at its meeting in Rome
last May and held its first session
et san Sebastian in August The
commission is at present composed
OF the military. naval and aerial f
hcers OF states represented i'm TIE
cornell OF the league. Its do,is-
ions are purely advisory and mn,
In any sense binding. but they RON
resent the common technical tudr
'nent OF the experts OF many com
tries.
1t would. Of course. be perfec;,v
Understood thG: tie presence OF mo
representative. of the Unite States
would in no way commit the Amer,-
can government to whatever opinion
may be finally put forward in th.
report OF the commission. Nor. in
deed. can that report itself be more
tnHn basis for the consideration
by the members of the leaGuc of
the measures OF reduction in arma-
ment which united action may en-
aole them to achieve
Nevertheless, just as in the caso
OF the financial conference at Brus.
Scis, the presence of an American r.p
resentative whose function was onlv
mat Of giving and receiving infor-
nation, was AN important factor in
the success OF the work OF the con-
ference. so that it cannot be doubted
'hat the general consideration OF th,
SUBJECT OF the reduction OF armamen;s
VIII be greatly facilitated if the rov-
erament or the United States can sea
its way to be represented in sim
iiar manner at the meeting OF tbe
permanent advisory commission.
or Highest importance.
The problem is one 10 which pub
NC opinion in all countries attached
the highest Importance
1t is unnecessary to poipt out tb,,
me reduction of armament is essen
'ia' for the we.l-being of the world
ana unless scme measures OF reliet
can DE found by international coon
GRAFTON for the excessive taxation du.
% armamonts. the general economic
situation must become increasingly
worse.
me council. in extending this in
F'ation. cannot bat hope that tn.
government of the United States. mar
hcuiarly in view OF the attitude or
America towards the question OF ths
competition in armament, will not re.
iusc 10 associate itself with tho pov-
erninents OF the members of tho
league in beginning the preliminary
""rk necessary for ultimate success
ana 10 land 10 the present effort any
assistance which can in no wav On.
croach upon its cwn perfect ,ih.r,y
OF action"