Evening star., 1922-10-24
PARLEY MAY BRING
DISARMAMENT TO
ALL THE AMERICAS
Wide Possibilities in Session
Called for This City
December 4.
PAN-AMERICAN LEAGUE
MAY BE ORGANIZED
Secretary Hughes Agenda Permits
Widest Discussion of
Subjects.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press
Wide possibilities affecting relations
between all countries on the Amer
lcan continents may be involved in
the Central American conference
called to meet in Washington Decem-
Der for the discussion among them
selves of many subjects In a plan
FOR limitation of armaments
In Latin American circles here the
opinion was expressed that the con-
ference might prove Il step toward
the formation of a pan-American as
sociation of nations.
1t was pointed out that the agenda
or the conference as outlined in See
retary Hughes invitation to the Cen
trail American powers is Of such scope
as to permit discussion of anv sub
Ject OF mutual interest to the nations
participa ting.
In view of this, and because of the
recent suggestion of Chile for South
American agreement on limitation of
arma ment and the movement i'm Uru-
quay Tor panAmerican leagus as
a peace measure, il would cause littI..
surprise i'll government circles here If
the Central American conference made
al ieast tentative suggestions for a
iattr general agreement among ali
Latin American countries
Present Conference Concerned.
Naturally such a step would be de-
pendent upon the success of the Cen
trai American conference, which is
cpnndentiy expected in government
and diplomatic circles in Washington.
The Central American conference
VIII deal only with land armament
Elted mas navy. Treaties resulting
from the conference might well pro-
VIDE, however. IL was suggested that
none of these countries should at an,
time plan naval expenditures except
Tor necessary police work in their
waters
The land forces involved in the Cen
trai American discussion are small COM
pared 10 those maintained in South
America. The largest authorized regu-
lar army strength is that of Salvador
with 100 men. backed by a force OF
23.oOo trained reserves which includes
the national police and the national
guard The national guard is a volun-
terr body. but Salvador employs the
compulsory military service policy and
is estimated to have about i70, 600 un-
trained reserviSts.
Guatemala has an authorized out
standing army of 5000 and approxi-
mateiy $4,000 unframed reserves:
45.ooo trained reserves and u 500 ,In-
trained; Nicaragua 1000 regulars and
ils,ooo reserves. trained and untrain-
ed; Costa Rica 500 regulars as the
maximum number the executive may
MAINTAIN IN service in peace time bu,
which may be increased to 5000 ia
case OF war or internal disorder. 1000
hrst line reserves and an estimated
force OF $4,000 unframed reservists
Armies for Internal Use
All five of the Central America
countries maintain their army very
largely for internal purposes and the
forces are not organized or equipped
FOR foreign wars. 1t is this situation!
which presents TO Latin-American
diplomats here the greatest hope of
"a. definite limitation understandings
As Sponsor for the Central Ameri-
can conference, it is regarded : pos
sible in some quarters that the United
States may ultimately be asked to
assume some liability in connection
with any pact that might result. cal
culated to maintain peace. Nation
ally the moral influence of the United
States would be brought to bear
should any power signatory to such
a pact be inclined to disregard it
1t is suggested further that the con-
ference might propose to make its
decisions as to armament limitation
contingent in some degree upon as
surances from the United States. first.
that no aggressive move against any
member of the Central American
group by an outside country should
go unchallenged by the United States
and. second. that American good
offices at least would be used to sup
port the pact within Central America
No Hint From Hughes.
No hint has been given as Yet as TO
what plan of action Mr.. Hughes might
have to suggest should he as is eX-
pected, open the conference when it
meets in December
There is some feeling, however thai
a natural and direct outcome of in.
discussion well might be a proposal
TO re-establish the Central Ameriytu
court of justice TO weigh disputes be
tween the five nations and aid in
peaceful settlements. This court
elapsed by time limitation of the
agreement creating it some time ago
1t is credited in Washington. how
ever, with having prevented at least
two Central American revolutions
and with other important contribu-
tions toward peace in Central
America.
While the Washington government
probably will not be a direct partici
pant in the conference. il seems like
ly that all of the information and
agencies of the United States will be
put at the disposal of the conferees
In addition the fact that the confer
ence is to be held in Washington is
expected to go far toward preventing
a rupture on any point until every
possibility of adjustment has been eN-