Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
BRAND Confident
STAND IS APPROVED
Will Take Back to France
Record of Utterances in
Conference Here.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
Premier BRAND. when he departs
for France, will carry with him the
record of words uttered in yester
days session of the conference on
Limitation of land armaments which
may be considered as of weighty i'm
port to his country, and carrying
good cheer and encouragement.
Secretary of State Hughes. speak
ing for the United States, and Mr..
Balfour. for Great Britain. and others
uttered them.
NJ. BRAND will not be able to re-
port a decision by the conference on
the subject of land armament, for
that rests in the lap of the future.
but he can tell his coutrymen that he
feels assured the conference will not
propose to France a course which
would leave her open to aggression.
U. 8. Alive to Situation.
Secretary Hughes said: "No words
ever spoken by France had fallen
upon deaf ears in the United States"
And he might have added that the
ears of this country never will be
deafened. Mr.. Balfour stated in terms
that Great Britain will never refuse
to advance to the defense Of inter-
national liberty should the occasion
again be presented.
That France has no cause for ap-
prehension that the conference will
suggest weakening Of ,ier defensive
position without coa.pensating pro-
vision was shown in the attitude of
the nations whose spokesmen talked
yesterday.
Japan made clear her attitude
when Admiral Baron Kato said "the
size. of the land ornaments of each
state should be determined by its
peculiar geographical situation and
other circumstances, and those basic
factors are SO divergent and compli-
Gated that an effort to draw nnai
Which is interpreted to mean that
Japan is in sympathy with Frances
plea, and will not join in a PROPOSE
tion to essentially mitigate 1t.
Own Economic Problem.
Nowhere in official or diplomatic
circles in Washington is heard an
echo of suggestion that drastic
plan of Limitation of land armament
will be proposed by the conference.
If France contends that large army
is necessary for the present that is
her own economic problem over
which the world Is held to have no
jurisdiction.
No one thinks the Unitsd States
would take a position different from
that maintained by France were the
circumstances the same or similar.
Certainly the American delegation is
not expected to take the initiative
in a movement to drive France out
of her position.
1t is the opinion here that NJ.
BRANDS exposition of affairs in the
countries of Europe will have the
effect of drawing increased attention
to the entire European situation: All
nations are supplied with official re-
ports showing the dreadful state of
affairs and the public, it is held, will
give increasing attention to condi-
tions hereafter.
Another Significant Remark.
Secretary Hughes made another re-
mark in his address yesterday which
is regarded as significant in that 1t
forecast a way of securing peace alter
native to extensive land disarmament.
He said that in this conference will
be generated that disposition which Is
essential to national security. the final
assurance of security which armies
and officers and men and material can
never supply; that is. the disposition
of a world conscious of its mutual in
terests, of their dependence, and upon
the fact that if they desire it-most
ardently and wholly desire it-peace
will be enduring among our people,"
1t cannot be denied that the entire
tendency of the conference and its
record as well is to foster the spirit
of peace among nations, and as this
increases the prophecy of Secretary
Hughes draws nearer fulfllment and
gradual reduction of land forces will
follow.
The next steps to be taken in the
consideration of the subject of land
armament will probably be decided
upon at a meeting of the committee of
the whole of the five powers, Great
Britain, France, Italy, Japan and the
United States. 1t is suggested that
the probe course will be to first
refer the subject to subcommittee
composed of the heads of those dele
cations for subsequent report.