The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-12-01
Conference Agreeing on Naval
Limitations but Apart on
China Questions.
BRANDS ELOQUENT SPEECH
Frances Need of Strong Army, Due
to Fear Of German Aggression,
Convincingly Set Forth-Tsx
Bill Becomes Law and
Congress hdjourns.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD

n ONCORD and dscord both were
~ apparent In the armament confer
ence last week. 1t appeared the
Hughes plan for naval holiday and
Limitation would soon be accepted
formally almost exactly as he pro-
posed II. Great Britain Endorsed the
1858" ratio without reservation and
made II known that she desired only
to suggest some modification Of the
submarine and replacement features
of the plan as whole. The Jap
anese, though still arguing that they
should have 20 per cent of the naval
strength of Great Britain and the
United States, evidently were pre-
pared to yield with the expectation
of some concessions In their favor
relative to China. But the British, at
AS soon as the Hughes plan was given
out the admiralty stopped work on
battleships under construction. Thurs
day II announced that unless de-
cison relative to naval Limitation
were reached by the conference with
In two weeks, work on the battleships
would be resumed before Christmas.
The admiralty may have been influ-
enced in this by the fact that our
congress adjourned without ordering
cessation of work on our new ships.
AS for the discord, which unfortu-
nately exists, II arises over two sub
jects-land armament limitation and
China. Concerning the reduction Of
armies the III feeling Is between
France and England and is being
sedulously fostered by certain British
correspondents now in Washington,
notably II. G.. Wells, who brazenly adj
mits that he is doing his "own small
best TO exacerbate IT," his avowed
reason being that "a brisk quarrel
and some plain speaking may clear
the air for a better understanding"
n RENTER BRAND, In a wonder
L ful address, told the conference
and the world just why France dare
not now reduce her land force too far.
Without hesitation he set forth frank
~ his country's fears Of Germany,
first, and of Russia more remotely.
with facts and figures he made plain
the possibility that Germany might
again and almost within day he
come a powerful and dangerous mill
tary nation. and that considerable
portion Of the German people look for
ward TO this he showed by quotations
from LudendOrff. who still has large
following. BRAND did not fail to give
generous praise to Wirth's government
and admitted there were many people
In Germany, especially among the
working classes, who want TO work
and want no more war. The Ger
many they represent. he said, France
would do all In her power to help.
But. he said, until there was a
"moral disarmlng" as well as phys
ical in Germany, and unless France
was assured Of the continued support
Of the United States and Great Brit
ain. France could not lay herself open
to attack by Germany. ave have to
know" he said. "that France IS not
morally isolated. that she still has
with her the men Of good will and
the hearts OF ell people who have
fought with her on the same battle
field"
A for the charge that BRAND and
the French who follow him have
hidden design 10 install In Europe
n sort OF middle supremacy, this, the
premier said, ais the most painful,
heart-rending and cruel thing
Frenchman can hear"
II Is impossible. much as one would
like to do SO. to quote more OF M.
BRANDS eloquent speech. Suffice II
10 say that to an unprecedented mind