The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-11-25
FRANCE WILL CUT
ARMY IN HALF If
GIVEN GUARANTEE
Premier BRAND Says Peace Is
Badly Wanted, But Fears
PruSSianism.
WANTS HELP INSURED
Asks That In the Event of Reduction
In Army England and America Aid
II Germany or Russia Should
Attack France.

II Germany or Russia Should
Attack France.
Washington France, Premier
BRAND told the arms conference, pro-
posed further reductions in her army
which would bring it to half its former
strength, but still leave, of course, the
force which he contended was neces-
sary to assure her security.
Germany, while apparently disarmed,
Premier BRAND said, could with her
present machinery, raise an army of
six million or seven million men.
At least 100000 Germans were re-
ceiving daily military instruction, he
added.
Although part of Germany evident
ly wants peace and is ready to get
back to peaceful pursuits, the French
premier declared, another portion
headed by the Ludendorffs and others
of the military caste is continuing to
preach the old Prussian doctrines.
In dramatic speech of an hour, the
French premier outlined to the confer
ence what is being said at the door
of France" which, he added, wants
peace.
How can anyone ask France to dis
arm under such conditions?" he asked.
Russia, said M. BRAND, could not be
considered negligible quantity, FOR
she retained the power to mobilize TO-
100000 men. He asked what would be
come of France if the Bolsheviks
should join the. Germans. What Ger
many's intentions were toward Russia
said M. BRAND, no one could tell. He
emphasized the present unrest in Ger
many and efforts to build up Bolshe-
Wiki sentiment there.
Britain Backs France.
hington-Speaking for Great
Britain and in reply to Premier BRAND
of France at the arms conference, Ar
thur J. Balfour, heading the British de-
legation, practically pledged the sup
port of Great Britain to France Sin the
face of the lust for dominion"
Senator Schanzer, leading the Italian
delegation, told the arms conference
that although Italy thought 100000
men a just quota for her army plans
were being made for a further reduc-
ton.
Japan wants only such an army, Ba-
ron Kato told the arms conference, as
was absolutely necessary for purely
defensive purposes necessitated by the
Far Eastern situation.
Powers Agree on Far East.
Washington joint declaration of
policy toward China, based on terri
torial and administrative integrity,
economic opportunity, an enforced
"open door" and the abolition of "spe-
cial rights" was agreed upon by all
nations represented in the arms con-
ference.
The first definite agreement to come
out of the conference, the declaration
touched in general terms most of the
principals for which China asked in
her "bill of rights" but does not pro-
vide in detail for the settlement of
the specific problems with which she
is confronted.
Elihu Root of the American de1ega-
tion proposed the declaratory resolu.
ton and two hours of debate preceded
its adoption. During the discussion
both Japan and China, as the most di-
rectly interested nations, asked many
questions as to possible application of
the suggested principles to specific
problems, while all the other nations
took a less active part in the debate.
kato Satisfied.
Perfect satisfaction" with the reso-
luton was expressed by Admiral Ba-
ron Kato, head of the japanese dele
cation. The Chinese also declared
themselves gratified at the develop
ment and the delegates of the other
nations generally voiced the view that
the agreement was a good start to-
ward complete agreement on the
most important of the Far Eastern
problems.
The two features of the declaration
attracting widest attention were the
clause approving administrative in.
tegrity" for China, and that under
which the powers agreed not to seek
special rights" within Chinese terri.
tory. Previous declarations of policy
regarding Chinese integrity have stop
ped with territorial integrity" com.
monty contrasted as much narrower
term than administrative, integrity
The special rights" agreement was
considered generally direct contra.
vention of the policy of spheres OF
influence"
Statement Not Surprising.
Baron Kato presented Japan's state