Evening star., 1923-04-14
.QU|zzESACCUSERS
OF GEN. A. A. FRIES
Secretary Weeks, Making No
Charges. Propounds Point
ed Question to Delegation.

! Following a visit by delegation
! Prevention of War. that called to re-
lterate charges that Brig. Cen Amos
! A. Fries. chief of the chemical war
fare service. had made unwarranted
attacks on the council in public ad-
dresses. Secretary of War Weeks YES
! terday issued statement announc-
, ing he had told the delega ton that.
] while he did not accuse them of be-
ing disloyal citizens" he was afraid
they were engaged in endeavorS which
were giving sutcor and aid to those
who are diSloyal.'
Secretary Weeks made it clear thai
! he did not cen think the members
or the delegat tion disloyal. Their visit
was occupied with eXpla ining the
aims of their organization as well as
bringing direct reiteration of
charges that Gen. Fries had been nm
regarding the motives of the council.
: Questions Propounded.
II asked them to point out" the
Var Secretary'S statement continued
in Just what way they believed any
! noulhcation could be made in the
military establishment Of the United
| states; in its disposition; how there
other matters. To this there was no
definite reply"
! Mr.. Weeks also said he had urged
his visitors that they should not
/ continue the methods used in the
past of advocating vague and indefi-
mite propositions which have no prac-
! tical value and which can only en-
/ oarrass the government"
! The meeting" he added, was en-
tireiy harmonious and friendly. and
i Ir1l
standpoint of those who feel that
! they have a mission and who were
| represented here today"
| 1t was learned after the conference
that Mr.. Weeks received the impress
sion that the organization represented
by the delegation was not seeking to
| further reduce the size of the Ameri-
can Army, but. on the other hand felt
| 1t already had been cut to a police
! roofing, and that it was imperative
OF their military establishments be-
fore 1T would be advisable for the
| United States to make further
SlaSheS
Members of Delegation.
In the delegation which called at
Mr. Weeks office were Charles A.
Lyman. Marian 1. Parkhurst. Ethel
N. smith. Dr.; John A. Ryan, Francis
f. Bernard, Mrs. A. c. Watkins and S.
p. Nicholson. representing either the
National Council for the Prevention
of War or organizations allied with it.
Declaring that the council "un-
qualifedly repudiates as untruthfuI
the charges which have been made
by Brig. Gen. Fries or by Others to
the effect that the purpose of the
COUNCIL is to establish communism in
the United States" the delegations
statement submitted to the Secretary
of War gave the following as the
three-fold program of the council
Ultimate world organization, by
whatever name, which includes the
plan Of permanent court. through
which all questions of international
differences can be dealt with on the
basis Of reason. understanding and
ultimately of international law; pro-
gressive reduction of armaments by
international agreement to a police
status; education for world peace by
sane and practical discussion
The council, Secretary Weeks was
informed. stands for the orderly
processes of government and is mere
ly endeavoring to aid in the develop
ment of that intelligent public
opinion which will find a better way
than war to settle International diff
ferences."