Evening star., 1924-10-03
j. s. WOU[DATTEND
ARMS CONFERENCE
Willing to Accept Invitation,
ConditionaIIy-PIan to Call
ParIey Here SheIved.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

II the United States is invited to the
International disarmament and arbitra-
ton conference at Geneva in June, 1928
the invitation will not bc rejected,
provided it is understood that accept
snce implies no commitments in ad-
vance. The Coolidge administration, in
the meantime, is not expected to
press the suggestion of the
President that he would summon
another disarmament conference in
Washington. to be held when Euro
pean reconstruction is further ad-
Nanced under the Dawes plan. That
project, in view of decisions just
taken at Geneva, now is virtually
abandoned.
The attitude of the American Gov
crnmcnt toward the vital question of
disarmament is that the place where
IL is discussed is of secondary considera-
ton. The essential thing is that it be
tackled and solved. barring devel-
upnsntS now entirely unforeseen here,
IN" United States will not be missing
from the conference now proposed for
that purpose. but there will not even
he informal consideration of the affair
al Washington until recent proceedings
at Geneva are available in detail.
L. :. Would Impose Conditions.
Tho principal condition which
America would lay down. if and when
it's attendance at the conference
IS requested, concerns the obi-
cations to bc undertaken by the coun-
tries signing any treaties or agree
mcnts adopted there. The United
states would be sure to insist from
The outset that under no circum
stances would it be bound to con-
tribute armed force. if by any chance
such a plan either as punitive
measure or otherwise. should come
within the scope of the disarmament
treaty. Such an obligation would be
regarded in Washington as new
Article N-the feature which Wood
row Wilson described as tn" heart
of the league covenant No agree
ment imposing anything of that sort
would have the slightest chance of
senate ratification. II preliminary
diplomatic correspondence disclosed
that it might come up at the confer
cncc il might Immediately terminate ne
EotiationS for our participation. Nor
would America take part in any con-
ference involving, directly or indirectly
international regulation of immigration.
The Monroe Doctrine would also be
labeled "U Undebatable" by the United
States. When We were inviting
the powers to the Washington CON
ference in 1921 Japan was very in
sistent upon knowing beforehand eX-
actly what she might b. letting her
self in for by attending. Incidental
ly. it may be mentioned that Japan
would prefer a disarmament confer
ence in the United States to any in
ternatioral conference called by the
league from which this country
would absent itself. Japan's chief
military and naval interests are cen
tered in the Pacific. If powers like
America, Russia and China We're
missing from a disarmament confer
ence, il would have little interest for
Japan.
Ready for Further Cut.
On the question of land armament,
the position of the United States is
that this country already virtually is
disarmed. That is to say. the mill
tary establishment which America
maintains. compared to half a dozen
countries smaller than the United
states, is hardly anything but u do
rnestic police force. At the Washing
ton conference the United States went
the practical limit in naval disarma
1nent But if Great Britain, Japan,
France and Italy were found ready to
consider a limitation of auxiliary ma
Val craft submarines. destroyers.
light cruisers and aircrafD. we should
not hesitate 10 so as tar as they
would
AS to compulsory arbitration for the
pacific settlement of international dis
putes, regarding which the Geneva as
sembly adopted its much discussed pro-
tocol, the position of the United States
Is less simple. II is complicated by the
traditional attitude and record of hte
Senate on arbitration treaties.
Hay Plans Failed.
In 1904 Secretary Hay concluded ar
bitration treaties with a dozen states.
lie called them "agreementS," but the
Senate would consider nothing but
the term "treatieS," thus requiring
senatorial advice and consent on every
specific occasion. In view Of the change
demanded by the Senate, Hay an
nounced that President Roosevelt
would not submit the amendment to
the other governments.
The Hay treaties. because of the
fate of the olney-Pauncefot treaty.
limited provision for obligatory ar
bitration to matters which did not
affect the vital interest. the in