New-York tribune., 1921-11-07
Statement He Comes Not
to Talk Long but to
Act Quickly Inspires
Hope of Prompt Action
Agreement by Jan. l
Now Held Possible
America Welcomes Move
and Will Be Ready to
Offer Naval Program
By Carter Field


on to speed up the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament. Premier
BRAND of France, although he has not
arrived, has perhaps unwittingly as
sumcd the leadership Of this movement,
and next only to the perplexing ques-
items to be solved themselves nothing
is of more interest in Washington to-
night.
Until to-day it had been generally
assumed that the conference would
drag on for six months. This is the
estimate made by the Japanese dele
gates, in talking with The Tribune cor.
respondent. Sometimes they vary the
formula by saying it will be over in
the spring.
Meanwhile, OF course, every delegate
from every country has been wishing
that the conference would adjourn
within month or two, although con-
Tossing frankly the belief that it would
last many months. The State Depart
ment in making it's arrangements fixed
two months as the basis, not because
it was accurately estimated that the
conference would take that long, but
because every one in the department
believed it would last at least that
long and some time had to be fixed as
q basis for contracts and appropria-
tions.
Demand for Action Strong
For the first time to-day, however,
there has been lifted powerful voice
in favor of transacting the business
quickly and getting away. AS gen
eral proposition. no one is opposed to
that. The delay has been assumed be-
cause every one has anticipated that
there would be very careful playing of
their cards by the various delegations,
no ene hesitating to hold the confer
ence up an extra few weeks if he
thought it possible that by the end of
that time the other representatives
would conclude that he could not be
induced to yield, and might therefore
give him part at least Of what he de-
manded This danger still exists, of
course, and the betting is still in favor
of a long drawn out conference.
But at last there is a real movement
for speed from a powerful source and,
if they are to be believed, there will
not be found any delegates who are
willing to delay the progress.
Premier Brands statement that ~
am going to Washington, not to speak
lcng. bet to act quickly" is regarded
France wants something done, and done
witho't the delays and chickering's and
quarrels that marked the Versailles
negotiations. The French Premier's
declaration that there is no occasion
for "protracted academical discussi sions"
fits in with the view of the American
delegation. M. BRAND and his party
will arrive tom rrow night and it is
expected he again will urge "Let US
put all our cards on the table and play
the game quickly"
America in Accord With Plan
While the French Premier is first to
urge hurried conference publicly, it
develops that the other nations are not
desirous of protracted sessions. The
United States wants quick action. but
no member Of the American delegation
has ever said as much in public
statement. But the Administration has
let it be known that America will pro-
pose at the outset program Of reduc-
tion in world navies that will show this
ment and do it at once.
With the other nations promising to
do something by way of limitation OF
armament it is felt that strong pro-
gram presented at the outset will force
the other nations either to accept OF
offer counter Suggestions. And the
American delegation, it is understood
does not propose that it shall be
jockeyed into any position by other
programs that will permit of weeks
and weeks Of delay.
January l Set as Limit
There is a feeling in Administration
circles that the conierenc Will .ave
completed its job by January /. So
far as possible the American delega-
tion is gong to drive at this mark
Some of the optimistic ones in the Ad-
ministration seem to think there is a
chance to get through earlier. Herbert
Hoover, who is member of the ad-
visory committee, is hopeful that the
conference will be concluded even be-
lore Christmas, it is said. He re-
Gently conducted an unemployment
conference for President Harding. He
finished the job in three weeks, where
two and three months had been re-
quired for previous conferences of
such a nature. Mr.. Hoover has made
speaking engagement for late in
(Contlnued on paue three)