Great Falls tribune., 1921-08-08
ECONOMIC EXPERTS
TRYING TO EXPLAIN
LOWER PRODUCTION

ficiency. At the same time, efficiency
is lowered IN protected countries anc
prices are raised. In short, the for.
eigner is the only one who gets any
advantages.
Add to this the fact that the Ger
mans, under the treaty of Versailles
are compelled to disarm. This means
all of Germany's man power is in the
workshop producing, not in the bar
racks consuming. OF course, with the
abolition of military service, Germany
has today larger industrial man pow
er than before the war and is able
to utilize that portion Of it hereto
fore used for war purposes in the DO
duction of export goods. Efficiency has
been imposed upon Germany by her
competitors.
Disarmament Question.
This brings me to the question of
disarmament and the prospects of ac-
complishing something in that direc-
ton at the Washington conference.
People who realize that about 80 cents
in every 81 disbursed by the United
States treasury goes for purely un-
productive military purposes-and the
percentage is higher in some European
countries-can picture the immense tax
savings in disarmament. To this should
be added the advantage of releasing
men from military service for useful
work and the saving of raw materials
now devoted to ornaments.
What are the chances of successo
So far as navies are concerned, the
decision will rest largely with our own
government. England is groaning un-
der taxation. Japan is utterly unable
financially to maintain the pace the
United States has set. AS l believe
President Harding is sincere in his de-
sire to lower military costs. | feel
confident of some progress on the
naval side.
AS for land ornaments, however,
France must take the lead and from
talks | have had with leading French
men l am less confident of substantial
accomplishments
Army Keeping France.
Frances population is under forty
millions normally, including about
s,WO,OOO males of first class industrial
utility. But she lost some 1,4OO. 900
Killed III the war while total and par
tlal disablement makes an aggregate of
' "a iioiI o,OoO,UU dDle DOOled
men lost to industry. Of the 5000, 600
approximately 100000 are
IN the army. This is the largest per
centage of able bodied men ever kent
under arms by any nation in time of
peace. 1t accounts largely for the fact
that while business is at a standstiIl |
there is relatively little unemployment |
n France. Not only are eight hundred |
thousand workers in the army, but a |
arge part of the civil population is |
employed in the vast bureaucratic or |
san1zatlon of government, while the |
abor of hundreds Of thousands is re-
luired to provide supplies and sub
'istence for the soldiery.
1t may be said, in short, that the
French nation exists today mainly for
he army's sake. In other words,
france is great army, with a great
service Of supplies behind it. It is no
Wonder in these circumstances that
trance has no surplus goods for ex-
,Ort
What will persuade France to give
p this army? / have asked manv
0renchmen this question. Nothing, it
GEMS. will satisfy them short of a
ormal guarantee Of military assistance
rom the principal powers in case of a
ierman attack. | do not want to be
nfair to France. Nobody can blame
he French for desiring to take every
ossible precaution against repeti-
ion of recent horrors. But I submit
ne French nation cannot have q mill
ary establishment which absorbs prac-
cally all of its productive energy and
the same time become prosperous
lodern industrial nation. The man
o sits up every night, gun in hand, ,
atching for burglars cannot work and
arm a living during the day France
annot see this so / fear the confer
ace concerning land disarmament
ices breakdown. Such an outcome
ill practically eliminate France as a
aiding nation.