Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-05-27
NO DISARMINC,
LEAGUE FINDS
Survey Of Its Experts Shows
Reduction OF Land Forces
Unlikely for Years.
MILLION MORE THAN IN 1917
Only Another Washington Conference
could Bring About Disarmament
in Next Five Years-Powers
Answer Frankly on Subject.

Geneva.-The nations Of Europe are
in no mood a. diSarm or even Suhstan-
tally reduce the size of their armies.
and no material progress toward the
reduction OF land ornaments can be
looked for during the next three or
four years.
Such Is the opinion Of the diSarma-
ment experts Of League Of Nations and
the members Of the temporary mixed
commission on ornaments, which Is
the instrument through which the
League has been trying for the last
two years 10 make some Roadway In
the direction Of world disarmament.
The commission. created in Septem-
her 1920 hut the first assembly Of the
League. will end its work next June.
when n final report will be drawn up
for the September meeting of the as
semhly. only twenty replies have
been received So far Ia the question
naire sent out nearly eight months
ago by the League 20 its fifty-one
members asking for detailed informa-
ton on the present size Of armies,
the amount Of war material on hand
and contemplated reductions.
All the big world powers. with the
exception of Russia and the United
States. 10 whom the questionable was
not sent. have. in the opinion Of the
experts, replied with reasonable frank
ness
The Genoa conference and the
RuSo-German treaty. In the estima-
ton Of the commission members and
league officials. have dealt a serious
blow 10 the disarmament campaign Of
the League Information reaching the
League indicates the representatives
of the various countries are leaving
Genoa with greater uncertainty as
regards the future than when they
started for the Economic Conference.
Consideration OF the disarmament
problem itself Is out Of the question
for the present. owing TO the Russo
German attitude. League experts he
lieve. The only outstanding exception
10 what League circles call the gen
eral refusal If the world 70 dlSarm is
the Washington Conference. But for
the initiative Of the United States
government. Il is pointed OUT. the rec
ord ~ disarmament since the armiS-
tice. excepting. Of course. former
enemy countries, would be virtually
blank.
The only thing that could bring
about general land disarmament with
in the next five years would he an
other Washington Conference. called
and strongly supported by the United
States. experts say They add that
Americas great influence. morally.
commercially and financially. through
ont the world. would compel the ma
lions 10 reduce their armies. when
efforts Of the League. which Is made
UP of and j. the instrument Of these
states. would fail.
Barring action hy the United States
the experts have little hope in tho
immediate future for disarmament
The League intends 10 continue lis
efforts for disarmament quietly. 20.
4i- dHfdN WIFI tUe lNsa tndf Wttitt
nothing definite can he done. It will
in any event have the machinery
ready for the day when the members
decide to disarm.
Although the figures gathered by the
commission are being withheld until
being reported 20 the assembly. uncon-
frmed estimates recently reached the
League that there are i.O0O000 more
men under arms in Europe today than
Just previous 10 the war. This figure
takes into account the wiping out Of
the German army.
The Washington government has
shown considerable interest in the
League disarmament work. according
10 one official Two requests have
been received recently from official
American sources asking for an avail.
able Information In the hands ~ the
League, and the League has forward
ed much confidential information 10
the American government.