The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-09-23
NATIONS TALK
LAND and SEA
CUT IN ARMS
Three Points Outstanding in
Proposed Conference-One
Main Topic to be China
Policy.
FRANCE TO KEEP ARMY
ny MARK SULLIVAN

WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. %
The agenda for the conference for
limitation of armament divide them
selves into three main groups: First
limitation of armament on the sea;
second, limitation of armament on
land; third, China. All the other sub
jects on the agenda are either subs
idlary to these three. or else relative
ly unimportant
OF these three, the one on which ii
Is easiest TO make progress is, in most
respects, limitation of armament on
the sea. Those who have looked into it
closely say that the chief difficulty
here is to arrive at a common denom-
inator, so TO speak, by which limita-
ton or reduction is to be measured.
There is no basis of measurement
by which to estimate how many sub
marines are equal to one battleship,
or vice versa. Moreover. q given num-
ber of battleshps or of submarines
would constitute larger armament
for one nation. because of it's geo.
graphical position, than the same num-
ber of battleships or submarines in
the case of another nation.
Money Is Best Standard.
Taking all these factors into ac-
count. some who have looked into it
say that the only way to come to an
agreement is to use money as the
basis of measurement, and that an
agreement will need to express itself
in terms of an undertaking on the part
of each nation not to exceed an ascer.
tanned sum of money in its naval ex.
penditures.
As to disarmament on land, the
chief obstacle is expected to be relat
ed to France. 1t is understood that
France takes the position that she
must maintain a large standing army
and a system of conscription as heI
only sure defense against Germany.
Persons who have been in a posi-
ton to ascertain the French point oi
view predict that France will take the
position that she is willing to disarm
on land only under an agreement in
writi.g on the part of the United
States to come to her help in case she
is ever again attacked by Germany.
Few Would Give Pledge.
The American people, of course
will be most unwilling 10 give France
such an obligation. After the League
of Nations fight few statesmen il
America with any sense of self pre-
servation would be likely to propose
that America enter into formal con
tract to go to war upon the arrival o.
a future contingency. If this Is tht
position of France. and if it is irrevoc
able, it will constitute a serious OBJ
stacle to reduction of armament OF
land
The really big problem of the con
ference will be China. America has al
ways taken, and undoubtedly will
take in the coming conference, the pc
sition that the integrity as natioI
must be preserved. This position op
poses the policy of other nations t
acquire exclusive concessions, sphere
of influence, and the like in China.
Divided Against Herself.
Unhappily at the very moment o
the conference, China is not in a goot
position to help America in America
effort to help China. China is divides
against herself to the extent that tw,
seperate governments are asking I,
be recognized by the conference a
the true government of China.
In other respects, there Is a stht
of feebleness on the part of China
sovereignty which is going to make
more difficult to uphold the American
point of view than would be the cas-
if China gave greater promise of be
ing able to stand on her own fee
among the nations.
All this, of course, constitutes an e2
tremely superficial survey of the mali
outlines of the agenda, nothing tha
can be said now, in so brief a space
can pretend to do more than furnisl
the barest outline.
Copyright 1927 by the New York
Evening Post inc)