The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-01-27
SLASH IN ARMIES
URGED BY HARDING
America to Join in Reduction of
Armed Forces.
FORTS ON B0NlNs BARRED
Agreement With Japan Permits Com.
pletion of Naval Treaty-Wash-
ington Meet Disposes OF Siberia
by Accepting Tokyo Pledge.

Washington, JAN % President
Harding believes that reduction of
naval ornaments eventually will lead
to reduction in armies, in which this
country would join.
IL the senate ratifies the five-power
pact calling for ten-year naval holt
day, the President is convinced that
1t is also feasible to do away with
large land forces.
For the first time since the arms
conference, these views of the Execu-
tive on land armament were set forth
at the White House. A statement of
his opinion might be set forth as fol-
lows:
mo sane government can think of
reducing its military establishment be-
yond the point where it guarantees
safety.
Example Furnished
II think we may safely have some
modest reduction in our army, but the
administration will never approve
drastic reduction Congress may re-
4
of 10000, but not appreciably.
In this respect the United States is
fine example to the rest of the
world, and if Europe would reduce
her armies comparably to American
reduction, the world would be prac-
tically transformed. The example of
Russia, in maintaining an army of
100000 or 100000 electives, is a poor
manifestation of the best form of
democracy"
The President believes that no one
can foresee what is the best policy for
this government to pursue in the fu-
ture with respect to land strength.
He hopes and believes that the ma
jority Of Americans look to the arms
conference to pave the way for dimi-
mutton of military forces throughout
the world.
Although the President is Of the
opinion that the United States should
be glad to take the lead in this di-
rection, he does not believe in sde-
struction' Of the army, which he hopes
may never have to be used except as a
military police force.
Reduction at this time, with the
world in its present state of unrest,
would be dangerous, the President
holds.
Japan Yields.
Japan has yielded to the United
States on fortiication Of Pacific
islands, the American delegates an
nounced.
The deadlock over the naval treaty
virtually has been broken by Japan
agreeing to include the BONN islands
in the Pacific status quo arrangement.
1t is understood the agreement ems
braces not only the BONN group but
divides the Pacific generally into for
LITIGATION areas, over which there was
considerable difference of opinion be-
tween the American, British and Jap
anese delegates
Details of the agreement were not
announced but there was marked jubi-
lation in American quarters over the
adjustment Of the difficulties.
u. S. States Position.
In the meeting of the Far East COM
mittee, Secretary of State Hughes an
swered the Japanese Siberian state
ment. made here, in which Japan said
she would not withdraw her troops
from Siberia until stable government
appears"
without accepting or rejecting the
japanese explanation of why japanese
troops remain, Secretary Hughes went
fully into the whole Siberian problem
from the American viewpoint.
He made clear that the United States
believes all alien troops should be
withdrawn from Siberia.
Both the japanese and American
statements will later be presented 20
the world at a plenary session of the
conference.