Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-22
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER %, 1921.

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i OH the table. Its Premier. Aristide
( BRAND, at the penary session Of the con-
= ference on the limitation OF ornaments i'll
+ Washington yesterday, made out the case
for his country. In an address scarcely less
s. significant and in effect perhaps more far
reaching than the Hughes naval suggestions
or the Chinese ten points relative to the
Far Eastern settlement the Premier opened
up vertahle Pandora's box of Europes
entangled affairs. Should the conference
elect to pursue TO its conclusion tho ques-
tion of land ornaments which he thus for
mally injected into its discussions. there
seems to be no limit to which it may not be
LED in Old World problems and yet it is
difficult to see how 1t is to avoid taking up
the issue.
The Premier's address, q supreme effort
in behalf OF his war-torn land, is vind-
! cation of France in faco of the charge that
it is maintaining tremendous army with
4 1nilitaristic intent. But il is more than
that. 1t is an eloquent appeal from the
heart of France TO the heart Of Great
Britain and to the heart of Amer
lea for sympathy and practical CO.
\ operation in what it deems is its perilous
position with an insanely hating and re-
vengeful Germany a, its door, and an in
satiate, powerful Bolshevist Russia crouch
i ing to spring the moment the French throat
is exposed
The Premier makes no reference to the
proposed alliance between France Great
Britain and the United States, which, had it
q become effective, would have rendered un-
: necessary great land armamcnts in France,
q but which went down in the general wreck
4 age with the covenant. Of the league of ma
Il tions at the hands OLA Wilson hating Amer
4 lean Senate But it can be read clearly
a between the lines OF his address that this
NJ Thought is never absent from his mind and
4 until the comforting powers reach an agree
ment that shall spell securty--lacking the
* "moral peace" In Germany and Russia
France will not dare to disarm itself to the
/ point where It would be helpless before an
q Invading enemy.
There may be those who will say that
Y the Premier has overdrnwn the picture, that
s Germany is disarmed and impo,ent that
Russia is lacking in leadership and morale.
and that, again threatened Frances first
1 Cry for aid would he heard and needed But
France knows different. Once il was laid
PROSTATE at the feet OF Germany. a second
: time similar fate was narrowly averted
and France has no intention OF becoming a
third time the prey OF lis ancient enemy.
And who shall say that Frances fears as
to Germany are exaggerated? There is too
& much evidence that the Premier has not
overstated the conditions. France then
asks security-that it must have--and how
shall il obtain it unless it receives pledges,
not in fair words. but in formal pact that,
& Should it reduce its armies and be threat
ened, it will not be LETT alone?
Yet even in the face of these conditions,
France offers to cut its armed forces in two
through reduction of its term Of military
service. a world longing for peace may
NJ say that the oNer is not enough, but Amer
z lea, which has fought through two wars
side by side with France. Will insist ,hat
s$tt is generoug> contribution TO the limta-
Sattons OF ornaments plan, pending that time
s;8when Great Britain and the United States
81 and perhaps Japan, are willing To furnish
IS guarantees more binding than hgh-soundinp
Sl 4platitudes and assurances of friendship