Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
BALKANS
DISTURB ITALIANS
Delegates Here Anxious as to
Action to Be Taken by
Arms Conference.

There is great interest. coupled
possibly with little anxiety. on the
part of the Italian delegation as to
what the armament Limitation con-
ference will see fit to do regarding
the armies of the Balkan states,
which admittedly are disproportion-
ate to their size.
1t is understood that it is the de-
sire and hope of the Italian delega-
tion that the armies of these states
be reduced. AS to whether this be
been forthcoming; but the It4lian
apparent.
Attention has been called to -the
fact that the army Of Poland is nu-
merically, at least, bigger than that
of France. Poland is not a Balkan
state. but it is recreated nation
after a lapse Of century or more
and, as far as this question is con-
cerned. can appropriately be consid-
cred with the Balkan countries, which
have been frankly characterized as
little volcanoes"
Senator Schanzer, president of the
Italian delegation, has made no spe-
life utterances on this point, but in
speech delivered at plenary session
yesterday he emphasized the fact that
Italy has already reduced its land
fories to the lowest possible point
commensurate with internal public
safety and that Italy sees a necessity
for the careful consideration of the
armaments of countries created or
re-created by the war.
Italy's Disarmament Program.
The fact that Italy's disarmament
program began the day after the
close Of hostilities, it is pointed out,
shows that Italy does not look to
France to show the way in this re-
gard. Italy, however. is not satisfied
strongly armed, for she recognizes
the ever-present danger when near
neighbors are heavily equipped with
war r-making machinery. Italy has
reduced her army from several mil
lions to 100000, with further slight
tai includes carabineri and other
forces which would exist whether
there were any army or not.
AS for naval strength. it has been
made plain that Italy feels it is mat
ter of life and death for her to have
terranean power, exclusive of Great
Britain. 1t is a life and death mat
ter because she imports large part
of her food, much Of her raw ma
terials and all of her coal. Her coast
line is very long, much of it inde-
fensible. and in many ways she is
comparable with Great Britain, which,
as Mr.. Balfour so feelingly pointed
out, is a small island with never more
than two weeks food supply on hand
at a time.
Italy's position in the matter of
naval strength in the Mediterranean
does not come from the conference
officials. 1t has been openly stated
by the present chief Of staff of the
Italian navy and in the Italian press.
That the members of the delegation
concur therein is taken for granted.
Use of Submarines.
Submarines are necessary for Italy
as defensive weapons. first. because
of their efficiency. and second, be-
cause Of their economy. Italy is to-
day in no position to build any more
capital ships than absolutely neces-
sary. The delegation has given no
intimation of what it considers should
be the naval strength to be assigned
to their country by the conference.
There has been simply laid down the
broad general principle that she must
not be inferior to other Mediterran-
can powers.
If France or any other Mediterran-
can power brings about an increase
in it's navy, Italy must do the same:
low. 1t has been stated that France
desires a naval strength equal to
that of Japan.
Although only casual reference is
made to France in anything emanat-
ing from the Italian delegation head
quarters, well informed Italians on
the outside are not so careful ~
stick to generalities. Correspondents
over here and the italian press gen.
orally hint that France appears to be
aiming towards a solution as to how
best she may increase her strength
both on land and sea, and in Frances
persistence in this aim they foresee
a possible failure of the whole con-
ference. They take with a grain of
salt French statements that Germany
could raise an army of 100000 men,
believing that no such recruiting
or conscription program would be
possible even were Germany able to
arm such host.