Evening star., 1926-09-18
Member of the Associated Press.
Arms Limitation Looking Up.

Recent happenings in Europe nave
given new impetus to ana new nope
for limitation of ornaments. Ihe
Anal admission Of Germany to the
League of Nations and the coming OF
the Locarno treaties into erect nave
helped enormously to create a peseer
atmosphere and to remove the clouos
which developed at the Spring meet
ing of the League Of Nations.
Reports from Geneva have it that
private conversations among the leao-
ing countries Of the League or Ma
tions on the subject OF the disarma-
ment conference have proceeded so
satisfactorily that there is now pros
pect of calling the proposed CONFER
ence next Spring, instead of pos'Poh
ing it until the Fall. Furthermore
the diplomatic representatives OF the
governments particularly interes'eo
are inclined, 1t is said. to discard the
work Of the military experts, VINO 1of
months have been laboring on a pro-
gram to be considered at disarma-
ment conference. The military eA-
perts it was frankly conceded, had
arrived nowhere in particular, owing
to diverse attitudes. Some OF the ma
tions at this preliminary conference
Of experts urged that not only the
armed forces, but also the industrial
economic and geographical strengeh
of the nations be taken into account
in limiting armaments. Others rea-
sonably took the view that Limitation
of armaments should be made largely
on the basis of the existing military
and naval strength Of the powers. as
was done at the Washington Confer
ence in 1921.22.
The diploma ts, it now appears. have
about reached the conclusion that 1t
In advisable TO tackle the limitation
Of armaments in a practical manner
not seeking to accomplish the millen.
ium in disarmament. If nothing
more can be accomplished, they would
like to see an agreement entered into
that none of the nations shall increase
its armaments over those Of today.
Perhaps it would even be possible, it
is said, to shave the present-day arna-
ments a trif..
If such a plan were agreed upon
at least it would prevent burdensome
and disastrous races in military and
naval ornaments, which might be in
augurated at any time by the mere
undertaking of a single nation unduly
10 increase it's army or it's navy. 1t
would mark beginning Of limitation
of armaments TO which additions could
be made later.
The proposal for q disarma ment
conference originated with the League
Of Nations last year. The United
States was invited TO send delegates
to a preliminary conference which
should arrange an agenda for consid
Grafton of the general conference
after it's submission for approval to
the governments Of the various ma
lions. Congress appropriated the
money for the participation OF the
American delegation in this preim
mary conference, at the request Of
President Coolidge. 1t is we'll under
stood that the United States has stood
ready at all times to lend its aid to-
ward bringing about an agreement for
limitation of armaments OF all kinds,
even though the interest of this coun
Try centers particularly in naval arm
aments. 1t Is we'll understood. also,
that if finally the nations Of Europe
are ready to go ahead on common
sense lines. without seeking TO solve
all the problems of the world in a limi-
tation of armamentS treaty. the
United States will be very willing to
aid.