New-York tribune., 1922-04-10
Prepares TO Take Initia-
tive i'm Land Reduction.
Admitting Vital Neces.
sity for More Economy
Will Use Influence
With Baltic States
Idea of Withdrawal From
Conference Abandoned
Out of Regard for U. S.
By Wilbur Forrest
speciol Cable to The Tribune

Copyright, 1922. New York Tribune rns.
GENOA, April 9.-With the for
NAL opening Of the international eco.
nomic conference here tomorrow il
was learned tonight that France
may take the lead in urging q reduc-
ton Of European land armaments az
2 measure of world economy. Just
how or when this subject will be
raised is not yet apparent, but it is
certain that European arma-
ment limitation will be discussed ct
the gathering and that the French
delegates will not use this discussion
as an excuse to withdraw from tho
conference.
Strong opposition has been voiced
by Premier Poincare and other
French leaders to the reduction Of
Frances army, but it is learned that
the French. prohting by their expe-
rience at the arms conference in
Washington, are prepared to take
the initiative here by launching the
issue in this form: France, along
with other nations, desires to cut
down military expenses because Of
their burden to all peoples, and is
willing to move in this direction il
the Russian Bolsheviki will pledge
themselves to :, similar declaration
ana will give evidence of their good
faith. In French circles it is point
ed out that this question of national
economy could be raised without any
direct attack on France for the
maintenance Of a large army.
Aims to Avoid Direct Issue
The Fren.-l, delegates to the confer
ence, it was apparent tonight, are de-
ternlined nea to allow any discussion
to arise over some moot point that
will force them to carry out the threats
made in Paris, to withdraw If questions
,nimcal to French policy were dis.
cussed. By studying carefully each
question as it Is raised the French
earnestly hoping that the conference
can achieve definite results, will en-
deavor to avoid a showdown on CON-
troversal issues.
So far as the questions Of German
reparations and the revision Of exist
ing treaties are concerned, France hss
a promise from her allies that she will
not be placed In an embarrassing posi-
ton But on the question of a reduc-
tion of armies the situation is diff
ferent.
French government circles in Genoa
as we'll as in Paris are fully aware
of the effect that would be produced
! in the United States and elsewhere Il
France at this conference refused TO
discuss the limiting Of European arm
les or, worse still, used this as a pre-
| text to withdraw the Paris delegation
from the discussions.
/ BRAND Attitude Avoided
Louis Barthou, head of the French
delegation, The Tribune correspondent
understands. will not take the samx
tack that former Premier BRAND did
of pleading that France needs security.
He will avoid the question Of German
militarism almost completely and will
tell the delegates that the Russian
Reds must first reduce their forces
and, when this is done, France will
talk business with the rest of Europs,
even though the French Parliament al.
ready has virtually decided not to cut
the length Of compulsory military sers-
ice to less than eighteen months
Barthou also will promise to use his
influence with Czecho-Slovakia. Ru.
mania. Jugo-Slavia and Poland to re-
| lai~ etor a
where the Russians will feel assured
that the so-called capitalistic nations
are not trying to catch the Bolshevtkt
mapping. -,
The French delegation leader is all
ready to justify his demand that the
Bolsheviki set the pace in this reduc-
ton Of land forces on the grounds that
the Reds are maintaining great forces
on a war footing, while Frances troops
are scattered here and there and. -
far as any surprise war moves are con-
mobilization. Thus, he will insist, that
the Russians are the most heavily
armed people, and if there is TO be
economy on this plan, the Moscow
delegation must make the first move.
Lenine's Stand Handicap
In French circles it was reported To-
day that the Bolshevik delegates srs
entering the conference greatly EN-.
barrassed on the subject of economic
reconstruction in Russia as the result
of Premier Lenine's recent declaration
that he is not willing to turn over 20
outside contro. any of the so-called
nationalized industries, such as thu
railroads, mines, electric power plansl
and other large utilities.
> From the French point Of view Il
would be almost useless for eithe,
> France or Belgium to negotiate witt
the Bolsheviki only on commercial and
{. mercantile lines while permitting tn,
, great Russian industries to remain ir
= Moscow's control. Even II the Be-,
e shevik regime were overhauled an,
+ Allied funds used for the reconstrus
tion work the French see no poasi
I bility of dealing with the Russians ol
/ the basis of Lenine's fos4pla. II i
suggested that after thi1f after Ia