New-York tribune., 1921-07-13
Economy Plea abroad
ASSISTS Disarnaing Plan
From The Tribu,.e's European Bureau

Is Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
y; LONDON, July 12.-The European
(. nations see in the forthcoming dis
armament conference in Washington
an excellent opportunity to accede
gracefully to the Widespread cry on
this side of the water for national
economy. Great Britain, France and
Italy therefore will go into the discus
sions with the determination of reach
ing some definite reduction of arma-
ments that will mean a corresponding
Tightening of the burden on their
treasures.
France will ask reservations on land
disarmament, as she fears Germany
still. British experts, speculating on
the extent to which naval cuts may go,
point out that the British Treasury
cannot maintain the pace which the
United States and Japan are setting
and hence the need of economy is 60
ing to count heavily in getting Great
duction OF appropriations. The British
estimates this year were $400, 900 900
as against $3.50, 100000 in 1914.
Archibald Hurd, the naval expert,
points out to-day that Great Britain
has not laid down any capital ships in
the last FIVE years and is replacing eight
obsolete battleships with only four
+ also that it is Britain's plan to keep
only sixteen capital ships in full com
mission, holding fourteen older ones
lin reserve. Hurd urges that this is a
specific lead already toward naval dis
armament.
Frances newest irstclass battleship
was completed in 1916 and Italy's in
8 1915. Neither of these nations is build
ing any new warships, except two small
craft.
4 NAVAL construction has ceased in
European waters" Hurd writes, "but
it is actively pursued by the United
states and Japan, overlooking the
Pacific.
a. Of course, sincere desire for peace
IS contributing largely to Great Britain's
interest in the Washington conference.
me London press, losing some of its
initial enthusiasm over the conference.
is now turning over the difficulties that
are bound to beset the negotiators.
=, IL now seems assured that Premier
Lloyd george will head the British dele
CATION to the conference.
prolongatlon of the Irish negotia
tiohs, or parliamentary difficulties that
MlsnS force general election, are the
phly prooable contingencies that might
LONDON, July ;2-.tBy the Asso-
clated Press).-ln consequence Of of.
ncial conversations which took place
mere today, it is considered not i'm
prooaole that the British government
VIII make an effort to have a separate
conference on Pacific problems in Lon
don before the Washington conference
on armament limitations takes nlace
me original idea held here way +aat
poth u conferences should be hela in
Washington, the first dealing with
disarmament and embracing all of tho
great powers, and the second arlslne.
out of the first, to be confined to ma
tions having an especial interest in
the Pacific.
Premier Hughes of Australia and
Premier Massey of New Zealand, how
ever, have put forward an objection,
pointing out that it would be virtually
impossible for them TO go home and
then return to Washington almost i'm
mediately. They ask, therefore, that
the Pacific conference in which they
made to meet their convenience
II is possible that conference rela-
tive to the Pacific will be brought on
here some time in August
The Premier's statement in the
House of Commons yesterday welcom-
ing President Harding's suggestion for
a conference will be the only announce
ment of the attitude of Great Britain
on the subject until Washington has
indicated the exact nature of the pro-
ceedings.
Pending conclusion of these ar |
iangements Downing Street officials !
declared it. was impossible to say def