The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-21

on the continent.
In expressing general adherence OF
France to the American plan Tor
naval reductions, NJ. BRAND said 20
The conferences:
When it comes on the agenda, as
it inevitably will come to the ques-
ton of land armament. question
particularly delicate for France, as
YOU are all aware. we have no inten
tion to eschew this question. We shall
answer your appeal fully conscious
that this Is question OF grave and
serious nature for us. The question
will be raised-it has been raised
and if there is country that desires,
that demands that the question of land
ornaments should be raised, it is
france.
Wants World to Know
Il hope that l shall be able to state
publicly what the position of France
Is, so that the United States and the
world may fully know. And when /
have tried to prove this, when you
have listened to this demonstration,
am quite sure that you will 5e con-
WINGED that France, after the necessi-
ties of safety and life have been ade-
quately secured, harbors no thought
whatever OF disturbing the peace of
line world
Beyond this forecast of Premier
BRANDS intended utterance, there
has been nothing to indicate that the
land armament question is to be
taken up definitely for settlement in
washington. So far as can be
learned, no power represented at this
conference has prepared any clan for
limitation of reduction of land forces.
All delegations are armed with vol
umes of statistics dealing with armies
among armament divisions. but
neither the United States nor Great
hritain has any direct or imme diate
interest in the subject, both having
already cut their armies to the bone
II appears wholly likely that If any
proposal such as the American naval
plan was to be for armies, it would
come from France or one of the pow
, ers possessing great army strength.
AS yet there has been no sign of sach
plan.
Much Interest
Much inherent Inns attacked to
Premier Brands coming state
ment, because OF what reference,
yelled or otherwise, he might
make to the well known French
desire that Great Britain md the
United States join in some form
of assurances of support for France
should she again be attacked. In
view of the general attitude in
Washington ON that suggestion.
however, 1t Ii regarded ns unlike
ly TINT Premier Briaud will make
even direct reference to 1t. 1t
was thought far more probable
that he would seek to give the
conferences picture of the pres
ent situntion of France ms visual
lied by her governmeont.
Meanwhile. American military adj
visers are prepared for the initia-
ton of the land armament question
by some other group. They are pre-
pared to show that the American army
is now far below any ratio of land
power which might be suggested: that
it is completely demobilized: that no
organized reserve beyond a paper
structure stands behind it, with. the
exception of the national guard, and
that the standing army today is no
more than national police force and
possibly is TOO small for oven that
work.
American Military Group
There have been no meetings of the
American military group Their work
has been confined to statistical prep
aration to inform the Ameri ian dele
gates on any point that might arise,
This data is in the hands of Secretary
Hughes and his colleagues and unless
the experts are called in later. they
have no active place in the conference
circle.
1t now appears likely that the con-
ference will, when it reaches the item
on the agenda providing for discus
sion of new agencies of war, turn this
question over to a joint commission
or commissions. The subject will In
volve use OF air bombs, gas, subma-
rines and similar matters, and 1t does
not seem likely this discussion will
be carried on by the-full conference.