The New York herald., 1921-07-18
WORK IS DISTRIBUTED
Reports Will Not Be Rem
dered Until Late in Au-
gust for Approval.
EFFECT PURELY ADVISORY
Temps Hints France Will
Link Guarantees Question
With Arms Limitation.


Copyright, 1891, by THE New YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, July IL.
Three new subcommittee bearing
the League of Nations label added to
the large list already burdening the
taxpayers of the Leagues member
states and repetition of the academic
speechmaking heard at the meeting
of the abortive disarmament commits
sion at Geneva-that Is the net result
of the two days labors of Rene Vivi-
ants commission for the reduction OF
ornaments. comprising twenty-four
members, representing thirteen States.
After working six hours on hot
Sunday with a small army of stenog-
raphers and lesser functionaries con-
stantly called In to take or give
information the commission lost itself
In a maze of discussion which will be
continued by three sub-groups. APP
pointed to-day. In separate sessions
tomorrow. But lacking any govern
mental authority or power to take de-
cisions it is admitted that nothing can
be evolved by these armament ex-
perts except purely academic reports.
All the speakers to-day, however,
once more referred in the highest
terms of praise to President Harding's s
action In calling disarmament con-
ference in Washington.
Work OF subcommittee.
OF the subcemmittees appointed the
first will discuss traffic in arms, inter-
national controi and methods for pre-
venting their private manufacture.
The second will devote the next two
months to the right OF investigation.
mutual control of the exchange of In
formation regarding armaments and the
amendment Of Article IS of the covenant
providing for mutual control of arma-
ments.
The third will spend its time increas-
Ing the volumes of statistics already
available on the disarmament question,
including armament budgets of different
countries, with the idea that these may
be useful at the Washington conferences.
In fact, the only advantage gained
since the Geneva meeting. according to
the league officials themselves, Is more
systematic organization. Moreover, the
subcommittee will not be able to rem
der their reports until late In August,
when another meeting of M. Viviani's
commission will be held to approve the
data to be submitted to the League OF
Nations assembly on September 5.
Cannot LegisIate solution.
But 1t Is admitted here that even the
league cannot legislate any disarma-
ment solution into being owing to the
fact that France, Great Britain and
China certainly will not ratify or con-
slider anything until President Harding 8
Washington conference has had its cay.
Frances attitude is known 10 conform TO
this policy. Even Premier Lloyd Georges
proposal that a smaller conference be
held In London prior TO the Washington
session is meeting with sturdy opposition
here, although with other questions still
unsettled the diplomats do not care TO
refuse fatty II 1t can be avoided.
Francs is willing to let the armasnents
problem be handled at Washington only,
believing, as the Libsrte says tonight,
that "for two years France has under
many circumstances submitted to the ar
hitrage Of her allies. who have limited
her victory, disputed her wounds and
tried to bargain her out OF her due.
but In Washington 1t will not be the
same. France will not only listen to ad-
vice. but will be able to give some. In
Washington Premier Lloyd George the
Great Arbitrator may In turn find him
self arbitrated against. For that reason
he is not so sure about going.
president Harding has invited us or
a long voyage toward an ideal which is
not chimericaL We Will make II gladly
but without any side trips. Washing
ton will direct or nothing"
The semi-official Temps. which has al
ready criticised Mr.. Lloyd Georges idea
Of a preparatory conference which would
steal President Harding's thunder. sees
a similar inutility in the deliberations oi
the League of Nations commission
Questioning the timeliness of the com
missions investigations the Temps asks
But is the League Of Nations able e
prevent or stop wars? Experience speaks
for itself. In 1920 the Russian Bol
shsviki almost captured Warsaw, but thu
league took care not to interfere. Las
year the Greeks warred on the Turks
The league carefully abstained from In
torvening. To be sure II tried to settle
the Wilma problem. but the Wilma Govern
ment refuses coldly the settlements pro
posed by the league and has renouncet
all ncgotia tons t:iefewith."