Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-21

armament conference today in
French and his speech was official
ly translated as follows:
Gentlemen: You will readily
admit that I. as the delegate of
France, should feel moved when
rising to speak from this full
sounding platform, whence every
word that is said goes to the at
tentive and anxious ear OF the
world and of all civilized people.
i wish, first Of all, to thank my
colleagues Of the conference, who.
on the opening of this public meet
ing. so kindly allowed me to speak,
as the representative Of my ooun-
try.
Ready to Make SACRIFICES.
I shall endeavor to make it ap-
pear to your eyes and to the eyes
Of the world with its true, genuine
faith, as 1t is; that will show you
that she is ready. and I might say
perhaps more ready than any other
country. to direct her attention and
her earnest will to whatever steps
may be thought desirable in order
to insure final peace for the world.
Nothing. for my colleagues and my
self. would be more pleasant than
to be about to'tell you this: We
bring here sacrifices to the fullest
extent possible.
We have our own security in
sured. We lay down arms We
should be so happy to be able to
make that gesture in order to par
ticipate in the final disarmament
of the world.
"MOral Disarma Necessary.
Unfortunately, we cannot speak
in this way. I say also, unfor-
tunately. we have not the right to
do so. shall briefly explain. ater
on. for what reason. I shall tell
you. for France. that she wants to
make peace. If you want to make
peace there must be two people.
you yourself and the neighbor op-
posite. To make peace-I am
speaking. of course, of land arma-
ment-is not sufficient to reduce
rails. That Is the physical side. the
physical aspect. Of things. There
is another consideration which we
have no right to neglect in such q
problem that touches vital ques-
tions which are of the most seri-
Gus character for the country con.
cerned. 1t is necessary that bs-
there should be in those same cir
cles what shall call a general
atmosphere of peace. In other
words, q moral disarmament is d1
necessary as the material one. I
have the right to say this, and l
hope to be about to prove 1t to
you. And have the right to say
present, there are serious elements
of instability. there are such condi-
tions prevailing that France is
obliged to face them, and to con-
template the necessary matters
from the point Of view Of her own
necessity.
Complex European Conditions.
am now staying in a country
many of the men of which have
already enjoyed the opportunity of
seeing France and knowing exact
ly what she is. They came to US
in the most critical time in the
war. They came and shed their
blood-mingled their blood with
ours-and they shared our life,
and they have seen France, and
they know what France is. They
have seen Europe, and they know
what Europe is. And certainly
these men have contributed to en-
tighten their own countrymen, and
they have done everything to dis
pei and drive away those noxious
gases which have been spread
about, and under which certain
people have been trying to mask
and to conceal the stYue face of
France.
Here in this country you are
living among states which do not
know the entangled barriers and
frontiers of Europe. Here you live
in an immense expanse of space.
You do not know any factions on
your own land. You have nothing
to fear. So that it is rather diff
cult for some of you-it must be
difficult for some of you-to realize
what are the conditions at present
prevailing in Europe, after war
and after victory.
Not Seeking Military Supremacy.
I quite admit that every citizen
Of the United States should come
and tell me this: 1.-The war is won.
Peace is signed. Germany has re-
duced her army to a great extent.
Most Of her war material has been
destroyed. What is 1t that pre-
vents peace from now reigning in
Europe? Why is it that France
keeps such a considerable army,
abundantly provided with war ma
terials?" .......
OF course, in saying this only
certain people have got something
at the back of their minds. They
suggest that France also has some
hidden thought-some hidden de-
sign. 1t has been said that France
wanted to install in Europe a sort
of military supremacy, and that
after all she wanted to be SO SIM
ply to take the place Germany oc-
cupied before the war. Gentlemen,
perhaps this Is the most painful.
heartrending and cruel thing that
a Frenohman can hear. and for
them to say, after the direful war
from which we have just emerged
-unprovoked war which we have
to undergo-to be again in the
cruel necessity to give to the world
only the appearance that we have
perfidious Intentions and military
designs-ths. gentlemen. consti-
tutes, I may say, the most dis
heartening thing for Us If we had
not the full confidence OF those
that know my country, those that
have seen it-they can testify that
not one word Of It is true. II there
is a country that has deliberately
turned her steps toward peace, that
wants peace with all her heart, be-
lieves in 1t with her entire faith
IL there 10 q country that does this.
gentlemen, it is France.
Many Disapp0lntnents.
Since the armistice we have had
many disappointments. France
ba n had ia wait for certain realiza-