Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-28
Big Poluers Must Place Strength at Disposal
Of Right to Insure Life to Weak, Said Wilson

~O~ - - -
basis OF the armament already
allowed TO Germany--100,00 900
men. This would mean for Aus
tria only $1,000 men; for Hun
gary, $4,000; Bulgaria. 10000:
Czecho-Slovakla, $4,000: Jugo-
Slavia, 10000; Roumanls, 49,
900; Poland, 1900. and Greece.
10000. But. he said, the military
men did not consider these figures
SUFFICIENT for the protection OF the
small states especially where
there were large cities to police or
where frontiers were Threatened
by Bolshevist ipcursions, and they
therefore suggested other figures
for armies; for example, 10000
for Austria instead Of $4,000:
10000 for Poland instead OF a.
600; 10000 for Bulgaria instead
OF $4,000. While these were tri-
vial armies compared with what
the small states desired. they
were large enough for defensive
and not at all for offensive pur-
poses.
Military Glory Might be "Hectic
Flush
General Bliss said frankly he
thought the army OF 100000 men
allowed TO Germany was too
small even for domestic safety"
and that II armies OF all Cen
trail Europe were reduced 10 the
same scale, the little states
would be converted into mere
vassals OF the two continental
powers OF the Entente (Franre
and Italy," He did not think
that such situation pointed to
maintenance OF peace in the
future
| But Clemenceau was utterly un-
willing to have the question OF the
German army re-opened; nor did
be wish even such drastic reduc-
uons as those proposed by the
military men, except for Austria.
In the armies of Central Europe.
After intermfnable further dis
cussion, II was hurriedIy decided
because the Austrian Treaty
had to be made ready-that the
Austrian army should be a voIup-
teer force Of 10000 men; but IL
was impossible to decide how 10
limit the ornaments OF all the
other states. Clemenceau was op-
posed to any further action, but
Wilson and Lloyd George were
anxious that something be done,
On June 4th minutes Of Council
OF Four):
Wilson Disappointed.
President Wilson said he fully
shared the fears OF Mr.. LLOYD
George chat the small states
would build up great armieD
At present the peoples seemed 10
be out for fighting and for what
they could get. His suggestion
was that period be fixed within
which II might be Anticipated that
the Torment IN Eastern Europe
would subside II might be
provided IN the Treaty OF Peaoe
that after January 1st, 1921, the
various states should agree to ac-
cept such and such limitations OF
forces, when in the Judgment oil
the Council OF the League of Ma
lions some extension was desir-
able"
Finally, 1t was proposed that
i, the representatives Of the smalle,
states be called in TO discuss the
whole subject; to see IL they
would not agree to a general lirni.
tation OF armament.
The Small States Meet.
1t would require a pen dipped
In irony to report properly what
happened IN this conference which
was held on June 5th at President
Wilson's house. The great men oil
six small, but ambitious, state,
were there; Paderewski foI
Poland, Benes for Czecho-Slova.
kia; Bratiano and Misu for Rou-
mania; Venizelos for Greece, and
Vesnitch for Serbia. These were
able men, every one. and some OF
them were men who, in a larger
arena, might we'll have qualified
as among the greatest contem.
porary figures. They made good
speeches, strong speeches. The,
all accepted the principle of the
desirability of limitation OF arma
ments, just as the great power:
have done-and, just as the groa
powers had done, argued the abso
lutte necessity of providing fol
e their own safety; they argued
their own special risks; the,
, doubted the immediate efficacy o
a League of Nations; and de
manded more rather than les
armament. Every argument tina
- the great powers had made, tn,
little powers threw back at them
+. Lloyd George, sensing, no doubt
the weakness of their case, whe,
= they themselves set no example o
!, disarmament, argued with Pad
!, erewsA that after peace wa
!, signed there would be great re
Q duction in the military force o
Z the British Empire. The Rou
mansan Army would almost Ger
tainly be larger than the British
a and probably the same could b,
!, said of the Polish
{ But Paderewski countered drill,
!; with a dart that had sting, tha
> Great Britain did not have Z
e fight the water on its frontier.
o And if the little powers were {
II disarm, what about the S,eutrals
: Would not they be worse off thai
n Holland or Switzerland? Finally
d DR.. Benes shot another bolt tina
d hurt. He. said that the threat {
If the small states was not only fror