Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-04
Asks Congress for $4,000
to Pay Cost of Sending
Delegation to Geneva for
Preliminary Conference.
DECLARES PARTICIPATION
DOES NOT COMMIT u. S.
Future Course of America Will Be
Governed by Whatever Tran
spires-Executive Avoids State
ment on Subjects of Farley.
Saws Aid Should Be Given.

President Coolidge today sent a
message to Congress signifying his
acceptance OF the invitation Of the
League OF Nations for American
participation in the arms llmlta
ton preliminary conference to be
held next month in Geneva. Switzer-
land. III which he recommended
appropriation OF $4,000 to cover
expenses Of the representatives who
will be appointed by the President
TO attend this meeting.
The acceptance assures participa-
tion in the work of the preparatory
commission for the disarmament
conference, with no commitment on
the part OF this country with re-
spect to attendanel upon any fur
thcr conference
In this MESA ge. the President
briefly outlined what he understands
to he the purposes of this preliminary
meeting, but stated that it was neither
the time nor the place to discuss the
Rgenda or to assess the prospects of
any arms limintation conferences
which may later be convened. He en-
nlsined that it was quite sufficient TO
note that the United States is merely
invited to participate in a preliminary
inquiry TO prepare the way for steps
of more definite and formal nature.
Asks No Permission.
The President said that whether the
conditions and circumstances will
prove such AS to make it desira BILE for
the United States to attend any con-
ference or conferences. which may
eventually take place as a result of
the preliminary conference or other
wise, Is a question which need not
now be considered.
Avoiding any speculation as to
American participation in future con-
ferences. the President went on to say
that in his judgment. and so far as
the preliminary inquiry is concerned,
the United States should give its aid
and cooperation to the fullest extent
consistent with the policies which 1t
has adopted.
Other than asking Congress for the
appropriation to cover the expenses of
participa ton. the President avoids
anything resembling a request from
Congress for permission to accept the
leagues invitation.
Text of Message.
The message in full to Congress
follows:
In a message which l had occa-
sion recently to submit to YOU l
called attention TO the agreement re-
Gently entered into by a number of
European governments urder which
guarantees of peace were provided.
and | took occasion 10 point cut that
the natural corollarv u these treaties
should be further international agree
ments for the limitation cf arma-
ments, work that was so successful
ly begun at the Washing ton confer
ence
The Government of he United
States has now been invited by -he
council of the League OF Nations 10
send representatives to sit upon the
Preparatory Commission for the Dis
armament Conference. being COM
mission to prepare for a conference
on reduction and limitation of srma-
ments,' which has been set up by the
council and which is to meet in Ge.
neva. Switzerland in February 1926
The purpose of this commission. it is
stated is to make preparation for a
conference for disarmament which
1t is the announced purpose of the
council to call at an early date
~: Cover Wide Range.
S4a >osed that the deliberations
Of tI.> coln.nission shall be directed to
such matters as the several factors
-Gpon the powers of country in time
of war depend; whether limitation of
the ultimate war strength of coun-
try is practicable or whether disarma-
ment should be confined to the peace
strength alone: the relative advan.
t2ces or disadvantages Of each of the
various forms which reduction or linn
itation of armament NAV take in the
case Of land. sea and air forces; the
standard Of me" surement of the
armament of ore country against the
armament of another: the possibility
nf ascertaininG whether the armed
force Of 4 country is organized in a
spirit of aggression or for purely de.
fensive purposes: the consideration of
the principle upon which a scale of
armament for various countries can
he drawn UP and the factors which
enter into the establishment of those
principles. such as communication, re-
sources, geographical situations, pop.
ulation, the vulnerability of frontiers.
necessary delays in the Transforming
of peace armament into war arma-
nent: criteria If any by which it
may be possible to distinguish between
civil and military aircraft. the mill
tary value of commercial fleets; the
relation between regional security and
disarmament and between regional
disarmament and general disarma-
ment.
The matters to be examined by
the Preparatory Commission will. it
is stated, touch upon all aspects of the
question of disarmament and affect
the interests of all the nations of the
world. The council believes that the
time has come for studying the prac-
tical possibilities of the reduction and
limitation of armament and expresses
fhe hope that at this TIME. when all
of the nations Of the world are con-
WINGED of a common need. it will be
able tn count upon the cooperation
of the Government of the United
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