Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-24
LAND ARMAMENT
ACTION UNLIKELY
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER
Especial Dispatch to The Atlanta
Journal and the Chicago Daily
News
192I.l

Copyright, 1919
WASHINGTON. Nov. 22.-Unless
the United States or Britain. or both.
are prepared to offer France some
form of written guarantee OF as
Surance to come to it's aid in case of
unprovoked aggression, the question
of land ornaments, which has been
referred to a commission, will prob
ably now gradually drop back out of
= sight, despite the influence which
this question undoubtedly eXerts
upon the Far Eastern situation. The
powers which France chiefly fears,
namely, Germany and Russia. are
not represented here. There are va
rious other elements of the situation
which do not lie in the hands of this
conference and which. therefore.
preclude any progress in land dis
armament except by the process of
giving France definite promises of
aid. Nothing less than such promises
: could be considered by France as
justification for disbanding part of
it's large army. President Harding
y is known to favor Offering some sort
of reinsurance to France: but to fix
upon the exact wording, and to
overcome the possible opposition Of
the American senate are difficulties
So considerable that it is doubt
full if a suitable formula can be
found.
Analysis of the speeches made in
yesterdays open session shows the
essential position of the various in
terested delegations to be about as
follows:
France cannot reduce its army be-
cause of the spirit of revenge which
is so strong in Germany, and be-
cause it really is possible for Ger
many, as now organized, to bring
together an armed force of danger
Gus size. This danger is heightened
by the enigma of Russian power and
by the weakness of the small new
states of central and western Eu-
rope which France feels bound to
protect.
Events in Poland, Upper Silosia
and Hungary within the last year
and a half have been such as fully
TO Justify Frances fears. and to
strengthen it's determination to run
no risks. France is too proud TO ask
again for guarantees. All it now
wants is a free hand to take such
measures, on OCCASION. as it may feel
10 ne hSCSSScIS LII Alo cN'A ~
and for the preservation of Justice
and order in Europe.
Belgium has a defensive, alliance
with France. and under the present
circumstances cannot reduce its
army below the figure now fixed.
Britain considers the question OF
land armament too difficult to be
dealt with in the present conferences.
Japan in this as in all preceding
questions accepts all Gin principle.
1t is willing to reduce it's army. but
only after careful study of the needs
OF it's present situation in Asia and
Oil a basis of this study.
The United States was non-com-
initial.
The one country which really
urged that the question of land ar
maments be seriously taken up was
Italy. Italy feels that there can be
no real reconstruction. either eco
nomic or political until this cues
ton is faced. Mr.. Schanzer., 1taly's
Spokesman, did not say as much pub
1iclv; but in private conversation the
italian delegates admit that it is
clear that this question can only he
dealt with effectively through the
League of Nations or some similar
organization bearing. perhaps, an