The Washington times., 1921-11-25
POISON CAS-
AND PLANE
LIMITATION
is S0UGH
Experts Busy While Delegates
Struggle Over Arms and
Eastern Problems.
BY FRANK CHARLTON
International News Service Foreign
News Edlto~.

Statesmen participating in the
Washington conference have come
to realization Of the fact that the
world is not yet ready for the ideal
istic era Of peace based upon inter
national good will rather than the
fears inspired by big armies and
navies.
Therefore. they are turning their
attention to the possibility Of fu-
ture clash. The rules Of war are to
be rewritten. War is to be made as
humane" as possible, considering
the frightful new machinery of
death that has been introduced since
1914.
Plan Revising Rules" Of War.
Subcommittees have been appoint.
ed to study two new agencies OF
warfare that will play an important
part in future hostilities-poison gas
and airplanes. The reports of these
committees are expected to contain
recommendations for a revision of
the rules OF civilized warfare"
that "the next war; will be deter.
mined largely by gas, other poison
GUS chemicals and aircraft How
ever, armies and navies always will
form the great background OF the
fighting machinery.
But, while the technicians have
turned their attention to limitation of
new death dealing agencies, the con
ference as a whole is still struggling
with reduction of navies and Far East
problems, as first step toward
minimizing the dangers of future war,
particularly in the Pacific.
Italy Shares Brands View.
Premier BRAND Of France was the
first statesman to focus attention
upon the possibility of new war in
Europe, perhaps at no great distant
date. After he had put France on
record as opposing a cut in European
land. armaments proportionately as
drastic as that proposed for the navies
OF America, Britain and Japan, Bel
gium and Italy came forward with
similar sentiments and similar pro
fessions of fears.
1t is to be noted. however. that
all the nations which claim to fear
a future war assert they dread an
attack. France and Belgium say
IneY IeaT lldiy htl
fears upon her isolation. The Japa-
nese do not specify the nation from
which they fear an attack.
Britain and America are the only
two nations which profess no dread
of future attack.
Discussions of the powers over
China show that the Far East must
for a time at least remain a potential
source OF friction. The impotent po-
sition of China In partly responsible
for this. Banking groups closely con-
nected with several foreign govern
ments have vast sums invested I'm
China and their pressure upon the
powers to maintain their grip upon
the Chinese channels OF revenue IN
based TO some extent upon fears that
the investments might be jeopardiyed
IL a weak Chinese government Is left
to its own devices.
Second Farley Urged.
Representatives OF the powers most
vitality interested In land armaments
declare they cannot reduce their
military forces beyond "the point con-
sistent with national safety" until ma.
terial guarantees are exacted from the
nations they fear. The proposal has
been made that a future conference be
held to include nations not represented
here. This future conference, they
argue. can not only tsks steps faSA0