The Washington times., 1921-02-02
Us. MUST NOT
RELAX GUARD
A. E. r. Head Points Peril Of
Limiting Arms in Absence Of
international Pact.
SUGGESTS POWERS CONFER
Emphasizes Need of Military
and Naval Preparedness for
Next War"
BY GEORGE X. HOLMES.
international News Service.

international News Service.
Gen. John j. Pershing, who, ~
commander-in-c chief of the American
Expeditionary Force, knows prob
ably more intimately than any other
American the military secrets and
situations in Europe, appeared today
before the House Naval Affairs Com
mittee and declared that 1t would b
both "unwise and unsafe" for Amer
lea to stop arming unless general
international agreement is reached
for limitation of armament.
SEES FAVORABLE RESPONSE.
If America would suggest a con-
ference with the leading powers Of
the world. looking to disarmament
General Pershing thought it would
in all probability meet with a favor
able response.
Neither Great Isritaln nor Ersace,
the general beliey sa. Is Ia a position
at this time. to take the lead in .iis-
.arming. ~--5S.SSs
MY personal views he said. IS
that France could not disarm now
with safety to herself. don't be-
lieve 1T would be safe for her to do
so, or that the other nations can ex-
pect her to do so. at least until the
terms of the peace treaty are fulfilled
and the Russian danger has passed.
France is standing on guard in
Europe today. i believe Great Britain
Is in somewhat similar situation as
regards her navy. She has great COM
mercial interests to protect. ...-
Il have always believed that an
agreement between the United States
and Great Britain must form the
basis OF any International peace
agreement. We have been at peace
with Great Britain now for more
than century and it seems to mo
that we are likely to remain SO. A
war between Great Britain and the
United States is inconceivable to
me-"
WORLD UNSETTLED.
General Pershing reminded MEM
bers of the committee that in consid-
ering this question of universal dis
armament or reduction of armament,
they also must consider that at this
time the world is in a very unsettled
state; that conditions are frauKht
with danger. The nations of the
earth. he pointed out owe each other
something like $4,000, ,OOO, 900, or
$500, 900, 100000 gold and these are
conditions which are productive of
war.
In considering this question" he
continued, I'VE must steer clear of q
tendency toward paciflsm. We must
not let the next war catch us as the
last one did--in a state of unpre-
paredness. 1 believe i am in a posi-
tion to know, probably as much as
any other American, the danger of
unpreparedness."
General Pershing said he had never
discussed with the leading figures of
the world war-Foch, Petain, Joffre
Haig. Robertson Rawlinson, Diaz
Cadorna, or others-the specific ques-
tion of disarmament.
LIMITATION NOT LIKELY.
But" he continued, 'it seems to
me that in view of the enormous cost
of war in lives and in property. tho
governments concerned would be like
ly to respond favorably to n sugEes-
tion of limitation of armament.
II can hardly conceive that they
would decline to enter such con-
ference, and once brought together
around a table, l believe some definite
conclusion might be reached. r,
But until some such agreement 10
reached, the safe policy for the
United States to follow is to continue
her armament program, both as to
army and navy. and not allow our
selves to be caught unprepared, as
we were at the outbreak of the world
war"
DANIELS TO GIVE VIEWS.
Secretary of the Navy Danields was
asked today to order Rear Admiral
William s. Sims, Rear Admiral Brad
ley A. Fiske and Officers of the navy
general board to appear before the
committee to give their views on the
aircraft-capital ship controversy. The
request for the officers appearance
was made by Representative Fred A.
Britten, Republican, of Illinois.
Statements made by Brig. Gen. VIII
liam Mitchell. assistant chief of the
army air service. that war aircraft
had made capital ships obsolete.
which were subsequently denied by
Secretary Daniels as "absurdr
caused the controversy which Brittcn
said today he believed should be
cleared up. Particularly is this the
case. Britten said, in view OF tho con-
templated building program for the
N,e''''" Y navy n