The New York herald., 1921-11-21
Brands Speech To-day Puts
Nation i'm Foreground of
Arms Conference.
EFFORT FUTILE, SAYS LOW
London Correspondent Sees
Britain and America in
Closer Sympathy.
by A. MAURICE Low.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Nov. 20.
On Monday France will be brought
into the foreground of the Washington
picture. Not with intent, but because Of
circumstances France has been relegated
to the background, which has not been
pleasing to French national pride.
The French delegates have not en-
joyed reading column after column in
the American press about England and
Japan and only a stray paragraph or
two about France even China has occu-
pied more space than France.
Now France is to come into her own.
Mr. Hughes has called plenary session
of the conference for Monday solely to
enable M. BRAND to acquit France be-
fore the world of being militaristic and
to explain why France must maintain a
great army.
M. BRAND leaves Washington next
Wednesday and he felt he could not go
before making his speech. He is ex-
pected to speak for about three quarters
Of an hour, and from what he has said
in conversation it will be virtually an
offer on the part of France to reduce
her army provided she is assured she
can do so in safety: in word. If Great
Britain and the United States will guar
antee her against further unprovoked at
tack from Germany.
A mere expression OF benevolent In
tention or of vague sympathy will not
satisfy NJ. BRAND. He knows. Of course,
that he will not get what he asks for,
that so far as practical results are con-
cerned his speech will not Influence a
single member of the conference nor
create public sentiment, but the Premier
OF France could not cross the Atlantic
and remain a silent and subordinate
figure.
The Japanese alone will listen to NJ.
BRAND with interest. They. / am told.
would be glad to reduce their army TO
some extent. but they cannot do it now
owing to domestic conditions and mill
tary reduction similar to naval is
possible only for the Japanese II 1t is
part Of a world policy.
This conference puzzles our French
friends who as NJ. BRAND is reported to
have said. "do not know why they were
invited and wonder why they should
remain as there Is nothing for them to
do" It Is the first conference in the
last seven years in which France has
not taken leading part or in which her
voice has not been powerful.
It is a new and not particularly de-
lghtfrl experience for France to sit
in 2 conference in which the Engiisn
speaking and not the Latin bloc is pre-
dominant. The solidarity OF the two
English speaking peoples is what sur
pr;ses and think a little disturbs the
French. who have evolved more than
one theory. quite logical. but unfortu-
nately devoid of all fact, to explain it.
For instance. our immediate ac-
oeptance of the American naval pro-
posaIs was so contrary to precedent that
the French believe our Government had
been informed in advance OF what was
coming and the surprise OF the British
delegates was feigned
When Mr. Balfour last Tuesday com
plimented Mr.. Hughes on the way he
had kept his secret Mr.. Balfour spoke
with the admiration one master Of his
profession has for another. 1t was
tribute to efficiency.
Another theory entertained by the
French is that as the power OF Britain
has rested on her navy she would not
agree to its reduction unless an Anglo
American entente existed and Greet
Britain in her future calculations could
count upon the American Navy as part
Of her own. This also Is interesting
but not accurate. II Is true the lead
ers of the two peoples are closer to-day
than they have ever been, but IL Is
not all entente in the diplomatic or
political sense or as the word Is gem
orally used in international relations
American and British delegates sit
ting in the conference have come to see
that the fundamental interests of the
British Empire and America. no matter
how divergent they may be in some
respects. are identical and that by work
ing togethe they may not only be able
ff, ant h,tt 1,a -,,,,I
There IL this recommendation. but
nothing more One may dismiss once
and for all any suggestion. now or con-
templated OF an agreement. UNDER
standing or anything else Of the kind
between Britain and the United States
Politically they are as far apart as
ever and each is the unhampered master
Of its own policy. but spiritually they
have been drawn together. This, how
ever. must be qualified to prevent mis-
understanding.
The conference, OF course, has pro-
duced no change in the attitude OF the
American people. anti English sentiment
has not been softened and it would not
be surprising If that feeling should be
increased.
There are some persons hoping to
wreck the conference. We already hear
the same objections that were used dur
ing the peace treaty debate "Supar-
state" surrender OF sovereignty" dis
honest English diplomacy" and all the
other pet spectres are being dra ggetl
out. If they are made to perform lator
II would not be surprising. nor would
Il be surprising IL they produced an
effect i'm certain quarters now devoted
to Angio-American friendship, but this
is the future.
am writing only Of to-day. and in
the words OF one OF our officials: 81 am
optimistic: there may be slump later.
but to-day everything is all right and
we may feel satisfied with what has been
done"
It Is not cnly that the relations be-
tween England and the United States
have improved during the first week Of
the conference. but also between the
United States and Japan.
The defensive vessels Japan wants. I
learn. are airplane carriers, Japan re-
garding them as essential for her pro-
lection. as owing to the frail character
OF Japanese buildings enemy bombs
would do greater damage than in any
other country the carriers being neces-
sary for the quick mobilization of air.
craft to resist attack.
There is the Far East and ALI It's
complexities. but the attitude OF Jana n
thus far. am told by members of the
conference, has been conciliatory and
moderate. She has given proof of this
in the acceptance Of the Chinese pro-
posals a. the basis for discussion, thus
removing another dangerous obstacle.
~ ic NJ . . .s.< 4. a