San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-20

tresty and the guarantees that treaty
gives them. They cannot be expected
to renounce their bloated ornaments
until the Russian situation is settled,
Unfortunately. Russia. for the time
being, has adopted exactly the same
attitude towards the League of Ma
tons Is the United States of Amer
lea.
This Is what Mr.. Tchitcherin said
about it at Berlin the other day:
"On no account will we join the
League of Nations in its present form.
II l were a German, ! would not be
for Germany's entrance into the
League and so abandoning freedom OF
action. The League, with its arti-
fetal najorities, its collective de-
cisions, its right TO march armies
across peaceful states and take CO.
ercive action, may so easily compel ma
tons to move against their own inter
ests. Even If Germany joins, our
basic objection will not be changed.
We would be glad to cooperate with
some other society of nations but with
huA8
U. s. PREPARING
Not very hopeful or helpful. But
so long N Soviet statesmen talk like
this, disarmament will be difficult.
While European statesmen are talk
ing of disa and Europe her
self is pervaded by 'the spirit Of Lo-
carno," the secretary of war of the
United States has been making his
annual report to the President in
which he recommends an increase Of
the enlisted strength of 10000 in
the existing regular army. He hints
at attacks upon the Panama Canal
and the Hawaiian Islands and talks
of ammunition reserves for two field
armies of a million men!
There are men who talk like that
in Europe and wost foster feay and
suspicious OF wars. If America, far
removed from the zone of danger, is
obsessed by the terror OF attacks and
can 1t be wondered at that
France, which has been three times
by hostile armies within
little over q century, Is unwilling TO
disarm or to hazard her security?
LITTLE NATIONS FEAR
Is it strange that Czechoslovakia
and Poland, which have only just
emerged from a thrnldom of tyranny
which kept them bound, one for a CEN
fury and a half and the other for
more than twice as long. are anxious
for their future 80 long as Bolsheyik
Russia. an angry and defiant exile
rom the fraternity Of nations, scowls
1t them across untrenched and un-
frontiers?
European statesmen, nevertheless,
ire right in straining every nerve to
educe the enormous ornaments and
colossal expenditure resulting from
he ceaseless competition of the ma
ions. Great Britain has a regular
lrmy of $4,000 this year but the
otsl of forces, includinv reserves.
erritorials, etc, is over 100000. But
{ is an expensive little army and
his year IL costs her 44,500, 900
,ounds. Her navy costs another co. |
i00, 900 and her air service 1J,500.- |
s00-an annual expenditure on arma-
nents Of 120, 500, 900 pounds. 1t is
colossal.
GERMANY LIMITED
France is maintaining, with all her
financial difficulties, an army Of
bout 100000. Germany's forces are,
perhaps happily for her, limited by
he Treaty of Versailles.
But in middle Europe there is a
ace of ornaments. Poland alone has
standing army of nearly 300. 900 men
md millions in reserve. Czechoslo-
aka and Roumania have standing
Irmies which are larger than that OF
treat Britain and the reserves Of each
'ountry run into well over a mil
ion.
The task Of disarmament win nee
ssarily be long and arduous. But
ven IL IL Is only started now. that
cry fact will make il more difficult II
or q war to be begun. When ma
ions talk war. they walk into war.
% when nations talk peace, they are
lore likely to remain at peace and, If
hey are occupied in an endeavor 10
sduce their armies, the spirit Of war
-hich foments the trouble is exercised
-om the council chambers-what is
IOre important, it is kept outside the
iitorial rooms.
The hunted franc II an active Cos
sller for the cause Of peace. 1t has
ound a temporary refuge in the
-inting rooms Of the Bank Of France
It il will soon be hunted out. The
xpayers are getting tired Of helping
out Of its troubles. II is q simple
lemma-the taxpayer must pay more
the government less. Can the ma
Dnal revenue be increased or the
Itional expenditure be reduced?
The former is a doubtful e1pedient,
II the agriculturist will not pay
xes. The latter depends on whether
-ance really needs a huge standing
my of 100000 for her security. IL
e does, then Locarno was all poor
slodrama, not worth the wine split |
the many banauets which celebrated
triumphs. Disarmament is the one |
d only test Of reality Of the pact OF |
1carno. II is not the toasts that !
re honored and drunk but the divi-
Dns that are demolished. the air
anes that are strapped and the |
users and submarines that are taken
L of the building yards-it is these
at matter.