Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-22
WISHING DENIES
NEW ARMS FARLEY
RUMORED At GENEVA
France Wants to Delay Con-
ference on Land Anna
ment Reduction

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-(By
the Associated Press.)-The state de-
partment issued today a fiat denial
of rumors current in Geneva that
the Washington government was
taking steps TO convoke disarma
nent conference in Europe,
The department statement fol
lows:
In answer to a question by the
Associated Press, today the acting
secretary of state authorized the
statement that there was no truth
in the report circulated in Geneva
that the Washington government
was taking steps TO convoke q dis
armament conference in Europe"
This was the first pronouncement
on the subject to come from any re-
sponsible official here since the dis
armament question recently was
brought under active discussion by
the proposal for conference under
the auspices of the League ri Ma
tons
Officials were unwilling to 90 fur.
ther in commenting on the Geneva
despatch reserving until u later
time whatever opinions they may
hold on the geneGal subject of any
HtW IOllltltutS li'tL ullN NC tdliG'h
either by the league or by President
Coolidge.
Such a conference, if held in Eu
rope, naturally would be concerned
with land as we'll as naval arma-
ments, and it has been understood
that the Washington government
has always regarded the question of
land armament limitations as essen
italy a problem of the European
powers.
While the historic attitude Of the
Washington government favors any
step that would relieve nations Of
heavy armament burdens and while
it has been felt in Washington, that
economic restoration in Europe re-
quired that the military OUTLAWS Of
the European powers should be re-
duced materially, there has been
nothing to indicate that the Wash
ington government expected to mi
tate a conference to deal with that
question.
1t is recalled that the question
Of land ornaments was included in
the agenda prepared in Washington
for the conference which resulted in
the naval limitation treaty. The
Washington government, however,
presented to the conference no sug-
gestion as to how this might be ac-
complished, and the land armament
question was dropped almost at the
start of the conference.
-- An agreement to limit land arma-
ments could be reached only when
the powers in Europe were ready to
negotiate for treaties having that oh
ject, and it has been felt here that
the initiative for an attempt to bring
about conference for land arma-
ment limitations of necessity must
come from some European power.
The moral backing of the United
States unquestiQnably would be
given to any such plan, ALTHOUGH
the question of the size of the Ameri-
can army itself is not one that could
interest the conference to any great
extent.
In his address accepting The Re
publican nomination for the presi-
dency last August Mr.. Coolidge am
nounced that when the repara
tons plan is in operation" he would
deem it an appropriate time to ap-
preach the other powers on the sub
ject of further limitation of arma-
ments. Later, however, the Geneva
plan came prominently to the front,
and recently there has been no in
dication what the intentions of the
White House in the present situation
might be.
1t has been apparent that the un.
settled state of opinion in Europe
on the ornaments conference ques-
ton has had its reaction here. The
American government is anxious to
do what it can toward an arms limi-
tation, but it desires that whatever
seps it undertakes be attended by
circumstances conducive to success.
There apparently is no intention to
take away from the league what
ever credit might accrue to it from
a conference held under its auspices
and the questions which appears to
have been kept uppermost in all con-
siderations of the problem is whether
the results desired could be better
accomplished under the leadership of
Washington or of Geneva
AMERICA HAS SUGGESTED
FARLEY, GENEVA HEARS
GENEVA, Nov 20-CBy the Asso.
ciated Press.l-The latest rumor cir
culating in Geneva on the disarma-
ment question is that President
Coolidge will convoke a new arms
conference to meet in Europe, per
haps at The Hague. Those circuiat-
ing this rumor insist that the Wash
ington government already has
sounded the new British government
on the subject
FRANCE AND ENGLAND AGREE
TO DEFER ARMS DISCUSSION
PARIS, Nov. 20.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press.)-The French DELEGATES
TO the League of Nations council
meeting in Rome next month will
concur in Great Britain's request for
postponement by the council of dis
cussion Of preparations for the pro-
posed conference for the reduction of
ornaments, an official spokesman
for the foreign office said today.
Paul Boncour and the other
French delegates who are going TO
Rome have informed the government
that they have a plan ready to pre-
sent to the council but feel they
would like more time to study and
improve it, and thus they welcome
the British suggestion for postpone
ment
Woodmen Will Present
'0ld E,sb,onod Mathew