The Washington times., 1921-01-21
q = .f
.HOLEWORLD
WOULDO|SARM
HENRY WHITE
Ex.Ambassador Tells Naval
Committee Peoples Of Earth
Demand Reduction.
HENRY WHITE
ny GEORGE r. HOLMES,
.lpteRnattensl NeWA Nerylce.


pntePnattenal News Service.
Henry White, former American
ambassador to France. who as q
member of the American Peace Com
mission at Paris had extraordinary
opportunities TO ascertain the views
of European statesmen, appeared to-
day before the House Committee on
Naval Affairs and declared that the
world powers are ready and anxious
10 diaarrn 30 the interests 81 world
Y PEOPLE CLAMoR f,OR MEET.
All that Is needed, White said. is
for some one of them to make sin
cere initial step In this direction, and
this duty, he thought, belongs to
America.
every country in the world Am
bassador White said, rs crying out
for a reduction of taxation, a rcduc-
tion of armament. All are waiting
to see what the other fellow is going
TO do. The time to start Is now. The
world is waiting"
White did not think, however, that
President Wilson should take any
action in the closing days OF his Nd
alton. He thought such action
was more appropriately the province
of President Harding. after March 4.
"I do not believe" he continued,
that an invitation from President
Wilson to the powers to meet here
and discuss disarmament at this time
would receive serious consideration.
~ ~ a ~ q
"But l do~bciieve that IL such an
is extended after March 4.
the people of the great powers of the
world would force their respective
governments to respond to that invi-
tation. All of them arc suffering
from excessive taxation. Those gov
ernments would not dare go against
their peoples and refuse an invitation to
coference."
The next war White declared, will
be Infinitely more horrible" than the
last. and it's a question whether our
civilization will not be bound to fali
beneath It,
White disagreed with Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels who last week spoke
insistently in favor Of inviting all
the nations of the world, and not just
the great powers.
A meeting of all the nations. he
said, would lead to chaos. Japan,
England. and the United States are
the only nations vitality concerned
from a naval standpoint and IL the
proposed program goes into reduction
of military establishments then
France and Italy must be taken in.
SPREAD OF BoLsHEvIsM.
Congressman Britain. Republican,
of Illinois, questioned White as to the
possible effect disarmament might
have on the spread OF Bolshcvism.
'Dont you think" he asked, that
ic IL the nations disarm II will leave
the doors open to the spread of Boil
shevism?"
mo, / don't think so," replied
white. "One OF the best ways of
opening the doors to Bolshevism is to
keep Germany in a state of chaos"
'In your contact with the leading
statesmen OF Europe" asked Con-
gressman Hicks, Republican. of New
York did they express sincere de-
sire for disarmament?
II don't recall any specific con-
Versstions, but my impression cer-
tainly Is that they do desire IT,"
BRITISH SEA CONTROL.
Representative Britten asked about
Great Birtain's control of the seas"
White said he didn't recall having
heard such a thing discussed during
the negotiations at Paris. He did not
think, however, that Great Britain
was entitled to any greater sea power
or any greater world prestige than is
the United states.
Wouldn't you regard the proposed
disarmament conference as direct
slap at the League OF Nations" asked
Britten.
"No," said white, we are not a
member of the League of Nations"
The former ambassador submitted
to running fire OF questions from
members of the committee over fea-
lures of the proposed conferences.
After all, white polntcdw out, any
agreement between nations Of what
ever nature must In the end rest In
respect for law, and In the morality
that will make nations keep their
sereements,