The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-23
Addresses Special Com
mittee This Afternoon
- Armament Confer
ence Is Plunging Into
the Midst Of Its Most
Difficult Problems

Washington, Nov 23-(By the As
sociated Press .)-Delegations Of the
five powers went into their first exc
cutive conference on land armaments
today with the French group hoping
that the negotiations would be press
ed to the point of O formal expression
of the character before the departure
: of Premier BRAND for France.
Just what direction such an express
sion could take at the present stake
of the conference was uncertain even
in the minds of the French themselves
4 and they were prepared to shape de-
tails of their program in the light OF
suggestions from the other delegates
The premier would like to take home
with him definite declaration Of the
powers supporting France in her de-
termination not to weaken materially
her army.
BRAND to Talk Again
i Washington, Nov. 23.-(By the As
sociated Press. )-The question of
land ornaments was again given a
place on the arms conference pro-
Z gram today for discussion at a meet
2 ing of the armament committee of
the whole prior to the gathering of
the full conference to resume its
committee discussions of questions
relating to China.
Premier BRAND, of France, whose
imminent departure is understood to
have prompted the call for the arma-
ment committee meeting, was expect
ed to add a last word as to his coun-
try's attitude on the question of re-
duction of armies. That the confer
ence might proceed to the point of a
Z formal expression on the subject as
8 relating to the present position Of
France was regarded by many as
q more than a possibility in view Of the
circumstances under which the meet
ing was called. M. BRAND, it is
I known, would be pleased to return
vto France with a formal conference
endorsement Of the position he has
taken against material reduction.
That there would be at least many
general expressions of appreciation of
the reasons for that position was tax
en- for granted.
With the first action OF the confer
ehce looking to specific application
of the general principles adopted with
) relation to China taken in the appoint
ment of a subcommittee of represen-
tatives of nine nations to study the
whole question of reduction Of arma-
ment for that country the conference
,Htoday was expected to develop its
/ course Of procedure on Chinese Ques-
tions. The progress made heretofore
on negotiations relating to the Far
Eastern situation including the ap-
pointment of this committee which
will give particular attention to the
/. tariff and tax restrictions imposed on
B China by the powers, was regarded in
3 official quarters today as highly en-
couraging, although it is recognized
: that some of the most troublesome
7 questions have not yet been taken up.
The American advisory committee
of 81 entered upon it's more import.
4 ant work in connection with the con
ference today following a conference
with Secretary Hughes yesterday in
which he reported on the present
status OF the negotiations.
A number of sub-committees of the
advisory body were instructed after
the conference to prepare reports for
the American delegates on vari
n GUS subjects in detail, including one
for the use and legitimacy of new
weapons for warfare, subject that
has not yet been mentioned in the
a conference proper.