The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-16

Statement Regarded as
Associations First Ex-
preston of Farley.
GENEVA PROGRAM
WILL FUNCTION
Hopes Delegates Take Up
Question of Land Dis
armament.

LONDON. Nov. 15.-Lord Robert
Cecil. one OF the outstanding fg-
ures IN the league of nations, and
generally regarded as the leader Of
the more liberal elements in that
association Of nations, has given
whole-hearted approval and indorse-
|, ment OF the American disarmament
proposals In an interview here today.
Lord Roberts statement. coming
from a diplomat of his standing. may
oe regarded as the first "semi-off1-
sial" expression Of the leagues at
Htude towards the Washington con-
ference and its accomplishments.
IT indorse the Hughes proposals
whole-heartedly." he declared. They
oner nothing in conflict with the
leagues program for disarmament.
ana the program will be supported
oy everyone who is anxious for the
success OF the objective for which
the league itself is striving"
Cecil pointed out that the Hughes
formula does not include the mill
tary or land features OF national
armament. an evil which he describ-
ID as lone of the gravest in Europe"
1T would be a misfortune to the
cause Of peace" he said. IF the
armament OF the maratime powers
we're reduced and no Limitation were
effected Of the present strength Of
European armies.
THE program Of the league Of ma
lions, which was drawn up at the
recent convention at Geneva. has
been held up pending the progress
Of the Washington conference. but
[ hope now that the league will go
ahead on its work as soon as pos
sfble"
Questioned regarding the possi-
Oilities OF an agreement concerning
land disarmament being reached at
Washington. Cecil declared 1t would
be very difficult to arrive at an
understanding on land armaments un-
less all powers were reprs sented at
the American meeting"
Peace OF Europe Menaeed.
Take Serbia's case. for example"
he coptinued. Although she Is one
II the smallest powers in Europe,
she is today maintaining one of the
largest armies on the continent
possibly the fourth in size. While
the Serbian-Albanian stuaton re-
mains unsettled, it is one of the
gravest menaces to the peace of
Europe"
Lord Robert hoped. he said. that
the WashlB gton conference would
discuss methods for the best ZAP
proach" to the question of land dis
armament and control of the manu-
facture Of war materials, admitting
that a solution of this problem
would be extremely difficult for any
body of diplomats, whether the
league OF nations or the Washington
aegOtiators He believes that Wash
Ington may possibly work out
basis for this action to which Euro
pean nations might agree.
says Program Is Moderate.
Il also trust that the Washington
conference will take up the question
oF the limitation of output of arms,
and their control" he said. The
prevention of international traffic
in arms as well as their manufac-
tfIre- cannot be attained without the
cooperation OF the United States
Tne Hughes proposals show keen
appreciation of the realities of the
situation IL respect to naval arma-
ments. His proposals are not dras-
tic, but moderate anu TedSOHdole'
II is a sound attack on the problem
nm the basis of capital ships. What
Is needed is the creation Of peace
nayies rather than war navies. Big
ships are useful only in war.
But the proposals should also
include submarines, because they
are also essentially war weapons.
THE leading powers must be able
IN send ships to different ports
throughout the world for the pur-
pose of patrolling and maintaining
order. But battleships are never
used and are not required FOR that
purpose.
II hope that Great Britain will
accept the Hughes proposals i'm
mediately' and set to work to ex-
anime the details necessary to their
accomplishment"
,(copyright, 1871