Evening star., 1921-08-28
BY BEN McKELwAY.

BY BEN McKELWAY.
-A1E interest and hope Of South
II America is centered in the
coming conference on the
- Limitation Of armaments.
Those who have looked at the Ques-
tion from a South American angle be-
lieve any step taken by the seven
nations represented at the gathering
will have a far-reaching effect in the
republics of the south.
While 1t would be useless to fore
cast this early in the game how the
republics Of South America would
react to an agreement for the re-
duction Of armaments reached at the
Washington conference. conversations
with Latin American representatives
here have developed some interest
ing angles.
In the first place, the republics of
Latin America have been feeling with
the rest of the world the burden of
maintaining armies. 1t is true their
armies are virtually insignificant.
with three possible exceptions, when
compared with the large bodies of
men who compose the armies Of dve
great world powers. But 1t also must
be borne in mind that in proportion to
their population and wealth. the re-
publics Of Latin America feel, per-
haps. as great a burden as do the
larger and more powerful nations.
4
At this time. when all South Amer
lea is suffering from an economic
reaction, which paralyzed many of
her industries and brought about a
decrease In governmental revenue.
the expense of maintaining armies
haa BEEN felt acutely. There have
ments actually have been unable to
pay their soldiers, with resulting re-
| bellion and near revolution. Any
movement. therefore, which would
enable the republics Of South Amer
| lea to cut down the expense of arma-
ment would be welcomed.
With the exception of Brazil. Ar
lgentine and Chile. however. the armies
| of South America are maintained
merely for police duty and garrison
work within their own territories
1t has been said there are no armies
Of aggression in Latin America. And
! as most of the republics of Latin
America have adopted conscription OF
compulsory military training as their
| means Of maintaining armies, the
army has become the agency for edu-
eating a portion of the population
i
These facts are cited In some quar-
ters to show there is no actual need
for reduction of armies IN South
America.
| But the necessity fo- a reduction
of ornaments probably will not play
so important a part as the spirit OF
the movement Provided an agree
| ment is reached at the conference
here. it has been suggested that the
participating nations will send tc
every world power the terms of theil
agreement to disarm with an invita-.
ton for them to join the movement
1t Is felt here that little hesitancy
would be shown by any Latin Amer.
lean republic to take part in a pro.
gram fostered by the United States
1t also has been suggested that should
the conference here on disarmament
prove successful in its purpose. sim
liar conferences might be called IL
South America. and in this connection
it will be recalled that several year.
ago when Argentina and Chile were
competing in their naval construction
an agreement was reached between
| them which ended in a virtual ces
sation Of all naval construction fo
was adhered to by both parties ant
| was successful.
+ Latin American legations and EN-
bassies In Washington have beer
/ lcanvassed BY the Intelligence section
of the general staff of the Army fol
figures on their land and nava
strength. In what connection thii
data will be used has not been learn
ed, but 1t Is supposed that IT will form
part of q mass of information on tn,
subject which is being gathered b,
the Army and Navy for use at tn,
conference.
Recent figures obtained on tn,
strength Of the armies Of the prin
cipal countries of Latin Americ;
follow: Bolivia. 7.100. conscripted
Paraguay. 1900. conscripted: Uru