The New York herald., 1921-11-24
8 YEAR SERVICEL LAW
REPEAL Is OPPOSED
French Cabinet Can Reduce
Effectives, but Bloc Fights
Further Change.
DOUBTS ARMY LIMITATION
Temps Calls 1t Impossible if
One Power Refuses Aid
Guaranty.
DOUBTS ARMY LIMITATION

Special Gable to THE NEW York HERALD.
! New Ysrk Herald Bureau.
| Paris, Nov. 90.
An effort to repeal Frances three year
military law in favor of two year
service law. to be literally administered
| by the Government, is believed here To
be foroshadowcd by Premier BRANDS
remarks IN Washington concerning
! Frances future army. Comment here
supports Premier Brands defense OF
Frances military position. but as to
any reduction in the army further than
this. sentiment Is greatly divided and
a bitter battle in Parliament is certain
should Premier BRAND attempt any
| such measure.
In fact, a fight is already pending
over the Governments present system
whereby two of the latest classes are
aerving only eighteen months each. al
though the law itself has not been alter
ed. This has aroused protests from ex-
tremists like Gen. Castelnau ana Andre
Lefevre. members Of the Chamber OF
Deputies, whose interpretations last week
were postponed only because Premier
BRAND was in Washington.
| A repeal OF the three year service ac'
would really be only demonstration by
France of her pacific purposes. mas
much as the Government needs no legis-
lation to reduce the actual number OF
| electives, this being purely an admin
istrative move and depending on how
large a part of the three years with the
colors is absolutely essential for training
| and protective duties of the men.
| Opinion in parliamentary circles here
| is that Premier BRAND. from what he
has heard in Washington, now believes
! that France should make such move
Bloc Opposes Change.
! A large portion of the Bloc National
| appears opposed to any change IN
| Frances fundamental military service
| laws and. If anything. their attitude
apparently was strengthened by the re-
ception accorded Premier Brands ex-
posure of Frances reasons for her army
Reviewing the drift of newspaper com
ment it is found to be entirely con
centrated on this part of Nj. BRAND
discourse and very little is said in refer
ence to his remarks on army reduction
nasmuch as these administrative meas
ures the Government already has begur
to carry out The Ere Noavelle, a radi-
cal Socialist organ, is one of the few
French newspapers commenting on this
point that does not approve 1t entirely
1t points out that Premier BRAND left
it to be understood that the reductions
will 20 on until France merely pos
sesses a volunteer system. whereas ex'
perience In 1914 showed the necessity
for the present system and that even ar
eighteen months compromise would
find adversaries in the military pro-
fession. 1t thinks it was Premier
BRAND purpose to present his thoughts
in an incomplete way so as not tc
arouse a definite opposition now from
his Bloc National colleagues. but that
+. throws doubt on the possibility Of
him gaining the bloc's approval.
Land Reductions Eliminated.
The TEMPS considers that land reduc.
tions now have been definitely elimi-
mated from the Washington conference
by Premier Brands explanation o!
Frances necessity and dangers. III
they decide to limit land ornaments
that is. the armies defending the coun-
tries greatest menaced-then the con-
tracing parties would be obliged tactly
to come to the aid of those countries
which would find themselves at grips
with dangers which their limited effec-
tives would not permit them TO arrest
at their frontiers" it says. Then If
among the celebrating Powers there Is
one which refuses absolutely to assume
such an obligation. as now is the case
in Washington, we see Immediately that
il is impossible to limit armies because
we wish to avert the inevitable conse-
quences OF such limitation"
Rene Daral. writing in the GdUlois,
while appreciating the fact that Premier
BRAND. by his speech, brings American
sympathiZers closer to France. declares ::
French opinion, nevertheless. expects
moro than this from tha conference. T.
expects Frances liberty TO be secured
against the dominating spirit of her
neighbor. The question OF disarmament.
as was to be expected, now Is 20 be sent
TO an examining technical commission.
and until II Is settled many things may
happen. notably Germanys two new
debt maturities.' These. he suggests.
will give an Interesting proof OF whether
Mr.. Balfour's words we're merely d'plo-
macy or the expression of a .aai inten-
tion to effect stronger Frarco-British
accord.
The Figaro declares that Premier
Brands discourse shows that the
policy of alliances has lived It's day.
Premier BRAND eloquently described
the dangers threatening France" Il says.
How can we conjure them? Either by
formal alliance or substantial army.
II seems that no one Will give US the
alliance. and. therefore. just as before
the conference. France win be compe He'd
to remain armed for her own protec-
ton"
Leon Bailby. who has never been opti-
nnistic regarding an alliance for France
coming out of the washington confer
ence. concludes an article in the IHtrdn-
sigeoat to-day by saying: "Fremier
BRAND might as well take ship back
to France and bring back all his experts
with him. He has done his duty.
France has been defended and heard.
She does not expect anything else of the
conference in Washington. Now We can
get back to work again"