New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03
World Disarmament Start
To Be Made at Meeting
of Committee July Is
in Paris, Says Viviani
Believes u. S. Will Listen
Covenant Can Be Revamped
for. America and Give
Lasting Peace, He Thinks

nations cali halt on increases in
naval, military and even air armament
budgets for the next two years in an
effort to make a modest start toward
world disarmament will be one Of sew
eral measures to be taken by the
League of Nations disarmament COM
mittee at its meeting in Paris, July
is. The Tribune was informed to-day
by Rene viviani, former French Pre-
mier, one of Frances representatives
on the committee.
NJ. viviani believes that the United
States, which is so anxious for world
peace, will be inclined to listen to the
leagues program, despite its opinion
Of the league covenant in its present
form.
The former Premier believes that the
covenant can yet be made the basis
Of world peace, even though it would
be necessary to revamp the whole strpc-
ture to eliminate Objectionable fea-
lures. including Article X and those
applying 20 political activities.
The Tribune correspondent found M.
yiviani at work preparatory to the
meeting, which occupation, he said,
would keep him in Paris until the date
set. He announced that the committee
would be composed of Hjalmar Brant-
ing, former Swedish Minister of FL
nance; former Premier Orlando of
Italy; General Berthelm, who replaces
General Fayolle, now ON a mission to
c+b
of whom will be q British admiral.
Employers Refuse Invitation
In addition there will be military
and naval experts of several nations.
The committee also has invited repre-
sentatives of employees and employers.
The latter have declined, but NJ. Jou-
haux, Of the French Federation of La
Dor, has signihed that he will be
present. The committee will submit
a report to the League Of Nations Sep
TENDER 5. at Geneva.
Scare must be TAKEN" said NJ. Vivi-
ami, mot to confuse the objects of the
committee with disarmament. It's OBJ
jects are more properly the restriction
Of ornaments"
Here the French statesman expressed
his belief that the League of Nations
still holds the nucleus of world peace
if properly used. Con the other hand,
he said, Americans must understand
that in order to build such an enor-
nous structure as is required for 8
real league for peace there must be q
covenant, however bad, to serve as a
basis for corrections. 1t is better than
nothing. Even if the league becomes
from the present league, partisans of
world peace must be grateful for the
start it affords toward the goal"
N. Viviani's remuneration Of the fea-
lures Of the league which were the
chief objections pointed out in Wash
ington also caused him to renounce as
a menace the alliances such as existed
before the war.
No Peace in Alliances
alliances cannot promote peace"
he said. 1.-THE interests of nations are
too complicated to be solicited in alli-
ances such as we had in the past. Note
the difficulty England is having, for
example, in removing the Anglo-Jap-
anese treaty. 1t is question arousing
extreme differences of opinion and is
the subject of long debate on the part
Of the empires premiers. These diff
ferences indicate the futility of any
alliance to preserve peace"
NJ. Viviani was not inclined to dis
euss specifically the disarmament prob
lens of the various nations, but indi-
Gated that the success Of the leagues
project depends greatly on Americas
attitude, of which he is most hopeful.
1t will be remembered that the
leagues only previous discussion of
disarmaments at the Geneva con-
ference the chief objection came from
Viscount Ishii, Of Japan, who based his
demurrer on lack of knowledge of the
attitude Of the United States, which
was still outside the League of Ma
tions.
eve have many ideas, but it is nee
essary to be discreet before the meet
ing" continued M. Viviani. zone of
these ideas is to ask the various
governments to maintain their present
armament budgets for the next two
for the present.
You see, our beginning will be very
modest, but it will be good beginning.
Il must confess that it was not
advisable for me to speak too much
Of the League during my recent visit
to the United States, but now there
certainly has come change OF at
titude there. America must be given
time to settle down after her heated
political activities before studying
seriously the great moral problems of
disarmament and arbitration.
Says u. s. Must Forget Politics
Il have the greatest confidence that
the change now manifesting itself in
the United states means progress, and
you can rest assured that the commit
tee will be most careful not to disturb
the new public feeling in America.
American public opinion must necessar-
iiy forget politics before it can con-
slcer the moral aspects of the situa-
ton.
When we speak of disarmament.
arbitration and such great, generous
ideas, there is not single man in
feeling of duty who can object to
eiaily in the United States, where
world peace assured. But, as I said
before, American public opinion must
nave time before there can be any
real negotiation.
personally, / am opposed to GER
tain articles in the covenant as strong
" as any one in the United States
especially Article X. This article is
aot only foolish delusion, but it is
deceptive, and it can be dangerous
ppsception at moment of real danger.
PEOPLE will then see it is valueless.
am in favor Of eliminating not
soY,;en1snt, especially those relating to
"a'ch likewise are deceiving."
R----