Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-09
MAY ASK REDUCTION
OF ARMY TO 100000

mand for immediate translation OF
the arms conferences benefits into
reduced taxes by cutting the Ameri-
can army to 100000 will be the first
congressional sequel to the parley.
If an army of 10000 was suf-
ficient under condition as they ex-
listed before the conference, 100000
should be enough now when causes
of international misunderstanding
have been removed, it will be argued.
A much more drastic reduction in
the number Of officers than the 5000
cut proposed by General Pershing
also will be advocated on the same
grounds.
Such reduction Of the military
forces would more than anything
Nelse prove to the American people,
it is held, that the great achieve.
ments claimed for the conference.
are actual and not merely theoreti-
cal. 1t would assure the people that
the administration has complete faith
in the treaties to be sent to the
senate, as means of removing dam
ger of future war.
Some Opposition
Senatorial opinion respecting the
conference today reflected the adj
ministration view-that the parley
was a long step forward. If the
treaties were to be voted on now,
they would be Overwhelmingly rati-
fled. :
But it is not forgotten that there
was a time when the Versailles
treaty and the League of Nations
covenant were also high in sena-
torial esteem.
While administration leaders were
confident Of fairly speedy ratifica.
ton by large margins, the power of
senators like Borah and Johnson to
stir up public opinion and to influ-
ence senatorial opinion was not be-
ing lost sight of.
Senators Borah, LaFollette and
France, of Maryland, are sure to op-
pose the Horsepower treaty. Senator
Hiram Johnson may be appeased by
the supplemental agreement exclud
ing the homeland of Japan from the
pact's guarantees. Senator McNary,
Oregon, would like a reservation
making it clear that the senate in
terprets the treaty as not imposing
on the United States any moral OBJ
| legation to use force.
1t seemed likely today that such a
resumption would be attached when
the treaty is reported from the for
eign relations committee. Senator
Lodge told Senator McNary and 9TH
| ers favoring this reservation that 1t
! was unnecessary, but said he would
not stand out against a purely in.
terpretative reservation of that sort.
Underwood Holds Key
Senator Underwood, Democratic
| leader, holds the key to the whole sit
uation. Success of the program de-
Ponds on his ability to carry with
his vote those of most Of the Demo-
cratic senators.
This, it seems now. he will Be able
to do. AS soon as the American
| delegation has filed it's report with
President Harding, Senator Under
| wood will explain the program to
| his Democratic colleagues at an in
| formal conference. League of Ma
tiens Democrats said the conference
seemed to have taken the United
| States into the league by the back
door, and that league advocates
would have to support the treaties.
A conference of the Republican
| steering committees of the senate
and house to determine when the
treaties should be brought UP for
ratification in the senate will be held
at the White House dinner tonight.
The soldier bonus also may be dis
| cussed,
Whether President Harding will
address the senate in person or sim
ply send a letter of trSnsmittal, has
not yet been determined.
fhn White House raf1I a. =
| to discuss any reported reservations
| such as one to make certain that
| the use of force is not contemplated
| in carrying out any of the treaties,
| it was indicated that the president
| would not in blanket fashion oppose
all reservations that may be sug-
gested.
There is no doubt, senate leaders
said that the treaties will be consid-
cred in open session
KING GEORGE PRAISES
WORK OF CONFERENCE
LONDON, Feb. liking George
today warmly praised the work of
the Washington arms conference,
for which the world owes a great
debt of gratitude to the initiative
of President Harding" in his ad-
dress at the opening of parliament.
ARMS DELEGATES START
ON HOMEWARD JOURNEYS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-(By the
Associated Press. )-Although the
Washington conference had itself
gone out of existence today with sew
eral of the delegations, including the
British, already on their homeward
journeys many of it's decisions, par
ticularly relating to the Far East,
still remained to be applied and CIV
en- effect by boards and commissions
authorized for the purpose.
In addition the conference so far
as it's naval decisions are concern
ed, provided for it's rebirth eight
years since, when representatives OF
the five powers which joined in the
naval agreement will meet again to
discuss naval armament and it's also
authorized specifically five-power
commission to revise the rules of
warfare.
The only directly continuing func-
ton of the conference remaining aft
err it's wind-up was the secretarial
generals office. This has been
charged merely with the final duty
of compiling and printing corrected
minutes of the plenary and commit
tee sessions and also will act as
clearing house through which the
various governments will inform
each other fully as to their existing
commitments affecting China. 1t
is expected to conclude both of these
in the very near future and then
close it's door.
Harding Will Suspend"
The president, it was stated, al
ready has ordered suspension of
work on additional Notifications on
the Island of Guam and likewise fur
Their developments under way in the
Philippines, taking his action in
view of the clause of the naval treaty
fixing the status quo for those Pa
clfic islands of the United States.
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