The New York herald., 1921-12-02
POWERS MAY CALL
PARLEY ON ARMIES
Would Succeed Present Con
ference and Include More
Nations.
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
,I,sugfou II c. Dec. 1.

spccsa, Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, D. c.. Dec. l.
Another conference of nations Is to be
held to settle the questions of land arma-
ments. Such conference as now con-
templated would include more nations
than are at present participating in the
Washington sessions. The reason is that
some of the largest armies now In the
field are maintained by nations not
now a party to the conference.
The fact that such conference Is
being considered by the delegates now
in Washington developed tonight from
British and Italian sources. 1t was
learned soon afterward that similar SEN
timent exists among the other nations.
The present conference. under the call
Of President Harding, Is for the limita-
ton of armaments and for the settle
ment OF Far Eastern questions, but the
limitation OF ornaments, because OF
circumstances. is being confined tc
navies. The nations now sitting around
the council table either are concerned
primarily WITH ndNleS OF Will dr Iaot-
ern questions. or both.
The report is current that q resolution
will be presented to the present confer
ence providing for the calling Of sec
ond conference soon TO take up land ar
maments. Such a resolution, there Is
Httle doubt, would be adopted.
Such leading delegates to the present
conference as Arthur j. Balfour Of Great
Britain, who Is one Of those who formu-
iates the programme. are of the opinion
that the fundamental question to be con-
sidered In connection with land arma-
ments Is the matter of conscription. If
conscription Is abolished in the various
countries, with common understand
ing, they believe n speedy solution may be
found which viii bring about satisfac-
tory limitation of the armies.
Neither the United States nor Great
Britain at this time has conscription.
Their armies are enlisted. and in both
instances. from a strictly military point
of view, are secondary to their navies.
This is true. also, with Japan.
The French may possibly offer no i'm
mediate and open opposition to a con-
ference on land armaments. but they
will none the less be opposed to 1t on
general grounds. 1t will be necessary
Cor America or some other country to
send out the invitations and no doubt
France will ask for certain conditions
before accepting. She will say, for in
stance, that before Poland can be called
upon TO disarm 1t will be necessary tc
do something about Russia, and this
brings up the question of de jure recog-
milton of Russia. If Russia is not rec
ognized the Powers may not invite her
If Russia is invited will the other Pow
ers guarantee Poland against Russia
and France against Germany? Unless
the Powers calling the conference are
prepared to give guarantees France may
ask that a method Of getting over this
difficulty be the first thing to be con-
sidered.
The situation as II applies to italy
was outlined by the spokesman of the
italian delegation, who said that II was
a question for the United States to de.
eide whether there should be another
conference to deal with land arma.
ments. Such a conference would be
compelled, he explained. to take mp the
matter OF European economic conditions
in general.
II is the italian view that the United
States Is In q better position to take
the initiative in this matter than any
other nation, since II one Of the Euro.
pean nations took the lead It's motives
might be suspected, while all OF the ma
tions have the wholehearted belief that
the washington Administration ls sin
cere In its attempt to do what Is right
for the wcrld.