The Washington times., 1921-10-27

delegation 10 the Washington con-
ference will number ninety-six. in
cluding secretaries and experts,
Austen Chamberlain announced in
the House Of Commons yesterday.
That is the minimum number Mr..
Chamberlain said. Sin view Of the
Importance of the conference TO
the British Empire"
prestige resulting from the recent
large-scale construction program
adopted by the United States
Italy is ready To support America 10
the utmost, the general declared. As
she has no interests In the Pacific,
however, her functions IN the Con,
ference will be, largely OF moral
character.
Skeptical About League.
The League OF Nations General Diaz
regards with skepticism.
ut was a beautiful Utopia. impos-
sible OF realization" he said.
Throughout the interview, which
covered practically every phase OF
international affairs. General Diaz re-
Elected the high hopes he entertains
for the success OF the Washington con
ference.
II am quite optimistic about the
Forthcoming meeting" he said. I'm
any case / believe IL will clear the
international atmosphere, permitting
the world to know exactly how each
nation stands In the matter OF arms.
ment."
Isolation Era Over.
81 do not believe though" he con.
tinued, that England will refrain from
renewing her alliance with japan.
This is the only means Great Britain
has In case OF conflict to restore the
naval superiority which she has now
| lost through the recent naval con-
struction by the United States.
THE era OF splendid isolation Is
over, and all nations. even the largest
and most powerful. need the alliance
| and support OF others. 1 believe II is
possible for the conference to set the
basis OF future understandings.
1t is impossible TO interpret the
Monroe doctrine today in the same
| way II was interpreted at the time
OF it's enunciation 100 years ago, the
general declared. The war has made
the world much smaller than II was
| before. Russia. the granary OF Eu'
| rope and it's reservoir for raw material,
| viii be incapable for many years to
come OF exporting on large scale.
Europe, therefore. will be forced 10 i'm
port more and more from America,
| and political intercourse will naturally
follow commercial intercourse, he said.
Sees Trouble for Poland.
The recent royal adventure in
Hungary is merely a phase OF the
| iah ha axxIx
born European nations, General Diaz
believes. and Poland Is in for a con-
siderable share of these troubles un.
less she changes her policies.
II see no possibility OF an inde-
pendent political life for Poland" he
said, unless she win get down to
work. The support given her by
| France is necessarily Of a temporary
character and represents a terrific
| daily expense for France"
Strict military non.intervention
the general said. is the only proper
policy for outside nations in dealing
with these and similar problems.
Time alone can heal the postwar
sores. sH-
"As for disarmament. Italy al.
ready has reduced her forces to a
minimum" the general said. For
her there are no reasons for future
war; her frontiers are safe and all
that she will need in the future Is
small army which will not weigh
too heavily on the budget of the
state.
Service Already Reduced.
Military service has already been
reduced in Italy from three years to
one year. which is the minimum pc
riod required to transform citizen
into a soldier. My idea is TO or
ganize the scouts, provide pre.mili-
tary training in gympasiums and sim
| liar institutions with sufficient gov
| ernmental assistance in such way
that we will have subject TO call
men who are at least half trained.
incidentally. / believe this system
will be of uncalculable benefit in
keeping the young men from prema-
ture politics artd unwholesome sur
roundings. For police service in
Italy we are now providing special
forces. such as The Carabin:eri and
the Guardie Reggie, thus enabling us
to avoid using ordinary troops for
police duty.
Says Red Menace Exaggerated.
The Communistic. and Bolshevistic
danger in Italy has been much ex-
aggerated. especially in the foreign
press. After a few inevitable post.
war convulsions Italy is now settling
down to really hard work. and I be.
lieve the financial and commercial
recovery will be speedy.
I'VE Italians consider most social
problems with the aid of a sense Of
humor. We have seen so many 10.
litical ventures that we are skepti.
cal of new social ideas which prom
ise drastic changes"