Arizona republican., 1921-11-21
BRAND TO GIVE REASON FUR b|G FRENCH ARMY IN
 ADDRESS TODAY
World Attention Will Shift From Naval to Land Armaments; May Refer Question to Committee of Five
TRepubIIcan A. P. Leased WIreJ

TRepubltCdn "A. F. Leased WlTel
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-World attention will shift from naval to land armaments when Premier Bri- and of France speaks tomorrow be- fore the arms conference. His ad- dress is expected to be a frank statement of the reasons that impel France to maintain the worlds larg- est army.
 statement is probably the point of most immediate importance to France in the conference.
 In informed circles, it is expected the address will be a defense of the French military policy.
 In expressing general adherence of France to the American plan for na-
 val reductions, M. Briand said to the conference:
 When it comes on the agenda as it will inevitably come to the ques- tion of land armament, a question particularly delicate for France, we have no intention to eschew this question.
 T hope I shall be able to state what the position of France is. so that the United States and the world may fully know. And when I have tried to prove this, am quite sure that you will be convinced that France, after the necessities of safe-
 ty and life have been adequately secured, harbors no thought of dis turbing the peace of the world"
 Beyond this forecast, there has been nothing to indicate that the land armament question is to be taken up definitely for settlement here. So far as can be learned. no power has prepared any army plan All dele cations are armed with statistics dealing with armies, but neither the United States nor Great Britain has any direct or immediate interest in the subject, both are cutting their armies to the bone.
 |. Much interest has been attached to Premier Briand's statement be- cause of what reference he might make to the French desire that Great Britain and the United States join in assurances of support of France, should she be again attacked In view of the general attitude here, however. 1t is regarded as unlikely 1 that Premier Briand will make even a direct reference to it.
 Meanwhile American military ad- visers are prepared for the initiation | of land armament question by some | other group. They are prepared to
 show that the American army is far
 below any ratio of land power which
 might be suggested; that it Is de- mobilized; that no organized reserve | beyond a paper structure stands be- hind it, except. the national guard and that the standing army is nc mere than a national police force and
 possibly is too small for even that work. The work of the American military group has been confined to statistical preparation to inform the | American delegates on any point that
 might arise-
 | It appears likely that the confer ence will, when it reaches the item
 on the agenda providing for discus
 sion of new agencies of war, turn
 this question over to joint commits
 sion or commissions. The subject will involve the use of air bombs. gas
 submarines and similar matters. 1 Following the address of Premier | Briand, it was said, Chairman Hughes probably would suggest thai the whole question of land arma- ments be referred to the committed
 of five for an appropriate resolution