The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-21

20 the swelling ranks of the European Unemployed, and also, according to careful estimates, would throw at least 2,o0o,000 industrial workers out of jobs.
 This aspect of disarmament has not been much discussed. Outside of the very highest political circles in the Various capitals it is hardly thought of. But responsible officials in each country realize that this is the final and unanswerable argument against the elimination of land forces, though It will not be thrown into play until all arguments are finished. Respon- sible parties realize such an addition to the unemployed and such a shut ting down of the military industries, even if gradual. would provoke grave social disturbances, the like of which Europe hasanot seen since the wave of revolutionary sentiment which swept across the world immediately after the the armistice.
 < Unquestionably this is moro than anything else the reason for the maintenance of large armies. No pure ly military reason exists for an army of S0O,000 men in France. for 100000 in Poland, and for 30o,O00 in Italy, nor for 105,O00 in little Belgium.
 In addition there are half dozen other armies in Europe larger than the forces m 5ntained by the United States
 The difficulty is that Europe has not progressed toward normal life since the war; and the governing regime everywhere. in the face of its economic failure, is obliged to fall back upon armed self-protection. r Of course. there is but one cure for this condition. namely the revival of world trade. With healthy indus trial conditions, it is practically cer- tain such armaments could not be naintained. The example of Germany, Forced to disarm and forced to pro- dice at unheard of prices to keep alive, would result in a widespread Remand from the capitalistic class in other countries for equally unfavor- able industrial conditions.
 .But with things as they are. 1t Mould be idle for the United States Nol say to Europe, "disarm and get to wbrk." because Europe has little cap- tai and no markets. The answer would be: "Give us capital and the mar kets," but it is felt that the United States not only possesses the capi- tal resources, but is the only nation tini position on it's own initiative to begin restoring trade conditions. This 3s because of the high potential pro- aictivitly of American industries, al though that productivity Is now quiescent on account of the tariff barrier And eEi4opeans point out that any tariff WVE1 is just as effective against exports as imports. Thus after placing responsibility for naval dis armament squarely on American shoulders. European analysis of the worlds military and economic situa- tion are inclined to believe that America, alone, can solve the pro blem of land forces.
 Not trade, but restraints on trade provoke wars" to quote an eminent authority, and so it is the view or Europeans that the sooner artificial barriers are removed the sooner the world can get, not back to normal" but forward to q new normalcy quite different from the war -clouded trade rivalries of 1914.
 It seems rather rough on America for Europe to pass all these questions across the Atlantic. Many will feel that Europe ought to settle her own difficulties. But to do so would re- quire a degree of European unity practically unrealizable. The latest session of the allied supreme council showed how far away such unity trator Is needed.