Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21
POWERS, KEYED UP.
FOR ARMS FARLEY,
JOCKEY FOR PLACE
AuStr0 German Custom S
Union Coup Rated Part of
Preliminary Tactics.
EUROPE SEES NAVY AIMS
OF u. S. IN SAME LIGHT
Other Sensations in Diplomacy Pre-
dicted Before Conference
Opens Next Year.
ny PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

BY Gable to The Star.
PARIS, France, March 21.-A period
of feverish diplomatic activity appears
to be beginning in Europe. The cause
is the great General Disarmament Con-
ference, which will be held under the
auspices of the League Of Nations early
next year.
The recent French Italian British
naval settlement makes the holding OF
this conference with fair hopes of sue
cess q certainty, but as result every
interested state now seems to have be-
gun nasty jockeying for position.
The sensational report that Austria
and Germany viii announce in the near
future a customs union can be inter-
preted as merely one phase OF this
general desire to go to the Disarmament
Conference in the strongest possible
diplomatic position.
Other Sensations Due.
Other similar sensations" are likely
TO intervene between now and next
February. The war clouds which many
thought were gathering in Europe last
Autumn seem to have been definitely
dissipated, but this by no means signi-
fies that political rivalries are ended.
The Disarmament Conference, In the
words of Lord Robert Cecil, Will be the
most important international confer
ence in the history Of the world. IL
will gather together the representatives
of a larger number of states than ever
met for this purpose and viii try to ac-
complish what has never been accom-
plished heretofore limitation
and reduction of the ornaments OF all
the nations of the world"
Armaments are largely due to fear
and ambitions. Apparently as long as
fear and ambition subSist among ma
lions each will desire to keep the
strongest relative armament position
consonant with its national resources
and policies.
The conference of some so nations
will seemingly offer unrivaled oppor-
tunities for diplomatic combinations
and intrigues Each state win hope TO
win for its own viewpoint the support
of as many other states as possible.
Bargaining for such support Is likely TO
dominate international relations during
most Of the coming year.
View Of U. S. Position.
The French British naval
agreement is itself widely interpreted as
such a bargain. Undoubtedly some
features Of this agreement are mac
ceptabIe to the United States and
japan, but in Europe the refusal Of the
United States and Japan to underwrite
this agreement, which they neverthe-
less approve in principle as a temporary
measure is attributed also to the al
legged desire to keep their hands free for
the Disarmament Conference.
What Germany wants from this con-
ference is either reduction Of other ar
maments to the German level or recogni-
ton of Germany's right to arm up to
the level of the others. For some
months this German view seemed to
receive the support not only OF the
Soviet Union, but also of Italy and
number of smaller so-called revisionist
states. while Great Britain and the
United States said nothing.
In connection With the French-1tal-
ian naval negotiations, however, Great
Britain and to some extent the United
States were believed by the Germans TO
have lent their L..pport to France. The
final French Italian British agreement,
the text of which experts in London are
now drafting, seemed TO the Germans to
transfer Italy also to the French side.
Fears Not DispeIIed.
These fears seem not to have been
dispelled by reassurances given by the
German Ambassador, DR.. Carl Won
Schubert, in Rome. Most German lead
ers seem convinced that French-Brit-
h-American-I Italian bloc is being
formed whose main purpose is to keep
them from achieving their aims OF
equal armament at Geneva.
This danger" says the Frankfurter
Zeitung, will greatly influence the con-
ference and extraordinarily supple tao
tics on Germany's part will be neces-
sary"
Two immediate steps seem to have
been decided on by Germany to avoid
the isolation with which she is sup
posedly threatened The first is to re-
new closer relations with Russia: the
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