The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-24
HUGHES MAY BE
 STABILnER FOR SANTIAGO MEET
American Republics Pin Hopes on Attendance
 U. 5. Secretary
INFLUENCE IS RECOGNIZED
Strife Among Nations Otherwise Might
 Upset Plans

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. An nouncement that Secretary of State Hughes hopes to attend the fifth Pan American Conference, which opens at Santiago, Chile, in March, has re- suited in greater optimism among ad- vocates of a limitation of ornaments agreement for the American repub- lies.
 Through representatives of the 21 American nations making up the Pan- American Union voted unanimously to consider limitation of ornaments at the conference, and the subject was duly placed on the agenda, skepticism has been aroused by recent events in Latin-America, and many diplomats be- lieve only the presence of Hughes, with the weight of his Washington Conference achievements behind him, can give the conference a chance of success.
 Doubt of this was based primarily upon uneasiness as to the attitudes of Brazil, Chile and Peru.
 Brazil Fights Cut
 The Brazilian representative at the League of Nations recently objected to plan of the League Disarmament Commission providing for reduction of the military establishmen of all member nations. Brazil through her representative, also stated her unwil- lingness to agree to the principles of the Washington naval treaty, because it would limit naval construction on the basis of her present strength and would prohibit her from constructing naval bases. Brazil has no navy yards now and would be prevented it is ar gued, from ever supplying her needs in that direction if she assented to the principle of the Washington Con- ference treaties. On that basis, it was stated, Brazil would be given only two capital ships and some minor vessels which would be entirely incommensur- ate with her wealth, population and extensive coast line.
 Brazil is now planning the construc- t1on of two naval bases, and she re- gently signed an agreement with the United States whereby Naval Con- mission, headed by Rear Admiral Carl T. Vogelgesang, U. s. N, with six teen American naval officers and nine teen petty officers, have been lent to the Brazil ilian Navy to assist in it's re- organization.
 This American Naval Mission to Brazil has already been the subject of considerable caustic comment in the press of Argentina, Chile and other countries.
 ChiI Prime Mover
 The movement to make the San tiago Conference primarily "disarma- ment conference" is understood to have received greatest impetus from Chile, regarded as probably the best equipped, both as to army and navy, or all the Latin-American countries But Chile was unusually hard hit by the economic depression following the war!
 The Brazilians, on the other hand, look upon themselves as somewhat isolated in South America because of the fact that they are of Portuguese and not Spanish extraction. Their defense policy is understood to be based upon the theory that they should have strength equal to that of Argen- tina and Chile combined, especially since the two latter countries have shown a consistent tendency to CO., operate
 The second big obstacle to a dis armament agreement results from the long-standing dispute between Chile and Peru over the Tacna-Arica bound ary. Despite the nominal agreement reached recently in Washington rela- tions are still strained and Peru may refuse to attend the Pan-American Conference at Santiago.
 Latin-American diplomats, however, believe that the presence of Secretary Hughes at Santiago will tend to smooth out difficulties.
 Neither great poverty nor great | riches will hear reason.