Evening star., 1925-02-07
EUROPE IS COLD
TO ARMS PAR[EY
Many Obstacles Seen to Pro-
posaI of Congress for New
Conference.
ny FRANK H. sIMONDS.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, February 7.-Action of
Congress in passing q resolution ad-
vocating a new disarmament confer
ence at Washington awakens little
sympathy and less interest in Lon
don, for the simple reason that Brit
ish public opinion, official and unoffi-
cial, regards 1t as a premature, fruit
less proposal.
The fact Is that the British at last
realize with pretty conclusive clarity
that there are a whole variety of
European questions which must be
dealt with before 1t will be possible
to discuss either reduction or limita-
ton of armaments so far as armies
are concerned. On the naval side, as
to cruisers, for example, British naval
experts believe that different require
ments in the British empire and the
United States necessarily call for diff
fereIt establishments; that there
could be no agreement on equal ratios
as tn cruiser strength which would
not involve the expansion of Amer
lean strength rather than the restrtc-
tion of British tonnage. AS for the
question of submarines and aircraft,
the latter is linked to the question of
land armaments, and the former is in
allegiance until continental questions
are settled.
French Question Seen.
The British are thoroughly con-
vinced that there can be no discus
sion with France in the matter OF
the limitation of ornaments on land
until the question Of French security
Is disposed of in such fashion as tc
satisfy legitimate French concern.
They are equally satisfied that it Is
not much use opening the subject
with the states bordering Russia
while the future policy of the Soviet
government remains wholly problem
atical.
In the case of the Washington con-
ference, the United States was able
to offer definite large concessions as
the price of British and Japanese ac-
ceptance of the naval ratio proposed d
by Secretary Hughes. In the matter
of land armaments, the United States
can offer nothing in the way of reduc-
ton of its own strength; 1t Is willing
to offer nothing in the shape of a
guarantee of its own aid to countries
which. having reduced their armies in
conformity with American views, may
be later attacked by their neighbors.
Macdonald Point stands.
In word, the declaration as made
by Ramsay Macdonald and Herriot
last year-that a discussion Of disarm-
ament could only follow a settle
ment of the question of security
stands, and the Tory government Of
Great Britain, however polite and
sympathetic it's response to the Anne ri :
fa l.
In the present situation of Europe to
discuss disarmament before settling
the problem of security is to put the
cart before the horse. and Is con-
vinced that any conference called
upon present circumstances would
lead to a fizzle with not impossible
disastrous consequences.
The British situation at the mo-
ment is excessively difficult. Neither
the mother country nor the dominions
will hear of any adoption OF the pro-
tocol made at Geneva last Summer
But it must be remembered that 1t
was also agreed at Geneva that dis
cussion of disarmament must wait
upon the adoption of the protocol.
Now the British are going to scrap
the protocol, although they will do it
by indirection, by reservation that
means that in reality they are going
to refuse to take the step which
would alone permit a disarmament
conference in Europe to take place
this year. They are also going to
give the French some measure of as
surance in the matter of security. but
they have not any idea how far their
own country is prepared to go in this
direction. Certainly they are in doubt
as to whether their people will go far
enough to satisfy France.
See Move as Failure.
In that situation, 1t is plain that
the British look with unconcealed ap-
prehension at any attempt to get
France to reduce her armies, while
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