The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-30
BRAND Satisfied
With Conference
Powers Pledge Their Moral
Support to France-Poison
Gas Discussed

each other in the confidential at
mospnere of an executive session,
the delegations Of the great pow
ers exchanged frank opinions today
on the limitations Of armies as il
touches the situation in Europe,
but adjourned without making
joint declaration of policy either as
to the European problem or the
general principles CT land arma-
ments.
Premier BRAND, of France, max
ing his last appearance in the con-
ference before mis- departure for
home, reiterated the reasons that
move his country to maintain the
largest army in the world and sug-
gested that the only alternative
would be a pledge by the powers
to come to the aid Of Franch should
Germany or any other nation again
threaten civilization.
To this the representatives. Of
the United States, Great Britain.
Italy and Japan replied with re-
newed expressions of regard and
sympathy for. the position Of
France, declaring their govern.
ments firmly committed to the de-
fense of free institutions and giving
assurances. that the French people
had the moral support of all the
powers and facing their problems.
But no one came forward with a
proposal to write such a pledge
into a public and joint declaration
of policy such as N. BRAND indi-
Gated would be asked to induce the
French Government to reduce it's
land forces beyond the point al
ready contemplated. Neither was
there move to formulate a COM
prehensive program for land arm
aments reduction like that under
consideration for naval forces, and
the meeting ended after designating
subcommittee to handle the col
lateral subjects Of aircraft, poison
gases. and the rules of warfare.
self well satisfied to take home with
him the oral expressions of moral
voiced by the representa-
tives of the powers today in Mon
days open session There were
indications that some of the FreLca
had hoped he might take along
also a formal written pledge, but
the premier was said to have real
lied fully the restraint under which
the national groups found them
selves in dealing with the subject.
In any case the strong man Of
France" apparently is leaving the
conference confident that his prin-
cipal Object in coming to Ameri-
ca has been accomplished, and
that if any attempt is made to taxi.
up in detail the question of land
armament limitation the negotia-
tons never will take a trend mimi
cal to the army Of France. The
designation of sub committees to
deal with aircraft, poison gas and
the rules of warfare brings into the
several new elements
differing from those which hither-
to have occupied the attention Of
the delegates and their technical
advisers. Since it would be diff
ficult for the five powers to make
an agreement on any Of these sub
jects without having the sanction
of all the other nations for it, the
is that the work done
here will be merely a foundation
Tor a possible worldwide confer
ence to handle such problems.
Aircraft development; as now
proceeding under the direct super
vision, of the various governments
is accounted universally as giving
promise of sweeping effects on
the commercial world, and it is
taken for granted that no measure
will be proposed that would seri-
ously curtail that development. The
discussion Of gases is expected
merely to be q beginning for a
world discussion and the problem
of revising the rules of warfare
must be in the opinion Of the del
egates, either put later into the
hands of a continuing commission
or referred to some world tribunal
like The Hague court.