Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-12
BL|SSSAYSU. S. CAN
D0ND|SARM|NC
Testifies Nation That Would
Refuse to Enter Pact
"CouId Be a Germany"

Should the United States call upon
the nations of the world for "a full.
free and fair discussion of reduction OF
armaments the favorable response would
be prompt and inevitable the House
Tasker II. Bliss. former American rep
resentative on the supreme war council
at Paris.
1.-THE nation that would come to such
a conference and refuse TO agree to any
proposition looking to disarmament or
.lishment," said Gen. Blass. could be
written down as the next Germany and
the United States could make its plans
accordingly
Gen. Bliss preceded before the COM
mittee Secretary Daniels. who appeared
again to give the committee detailed in
formation regarding the relative naval
strength Of the great powers. The for
mer chief Of staff of the Army said his
association with the high military rep
resentatives Of the other powers at Paris
had confirmed his belief that all OF the
great nations of the world were ready
to talk disarmament seriously.
says Next War Will De Worse.
Our present form of civilization
cannot stand the great strain Of mill
tary preparation much longer. Gen.
Bliss declared. "The world war was a
terrific strain on civilization. The
next war will be very much worse.
Fear is the basis of war preparation.
This is business proposition, and
we should determine whether there
is any real basis for the fear that
itor uol
programs.
TT would not be necessary to have
all the nations of the world repre-
sented at the suggested conference"
the general said. 'if the United States.
Great Britain. France. Japan and
smaller nations would willingly ac-
cede to any proposal put forward in
good faith by these FIVE great pow
ers'' he declared
Gen. Bliss said that he had dis
cussed disarmament 'in general
way and incident to other matters
with Marshal F'och and high British
military leaders.
"Did you ever talk it over with any
of Japan's or Italy's officials asked
Chairman Butler.
Il believe 1 did with Italian repre-
sentatives." was the reply. "Of
course. the subject only came up At
that time incidentally.
Favors an Agreement.
! IF it were left to me 1 would not
disarm an American soldier nor lay
up an American ship until all the
great powers had reached an agree
lnent." declared the general. IF such
the secretary we're to make public
every day an abstract Of the PROPOSE
tions put forward and the arguments
for and against. with the names OF
the national representatives who
made them. the common people Of the
world would not allow the conference
to dissolve until at least the first step
forward had been taken.
Il do not care what the cabinets of
the world think. the masses of the
people who pay the taxes have the
vital interest in this subject"
Could he Accomplished Quickly.
| Gen. Bliss said the United States
should take the initiative.
| "If the United States should issue a
in Washington it could be accom-
plished in sixty days" he said
Asked by Chairman Butler if he
| had any knowledge of a sincere de-
SIRE on the part OF the other world
! powers for a disarmament agreement
Cen Bliss said that his experiences
had convinced him that there was
such sincere desire.
. Gen. Bliss said that he could see
iwhere some good might come from q
reduction of naval building by the
! United States. Great Britain and Japar
i for five years. as provided in the pend
! ing Borah resolution. X it were re-
garded as q prelude to permanent
agreement He thought. however. thai
naval building already under contraca
in this country should be completed
! The former chief of stan said thai
lin conversations with former Pre-.
miers Clemenceau and Orlando anc
Premier Lloyd George and other Rp-
! iresentatives of the allied powers, Sr
addition to the high military offic1aa s
he had found universal dread sans
horror" at the international situation
land the potentialities for world chap.
resulting from the world war.
| Final action on the resolutions looke.
4 1C0minaaa6 a RAgo1 l0NR