Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-27
u. S. FIRM FOR 1882
ARMS CONFERENCE
State Department Resists
Pressure From Nations
Facing Elections.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Despite the repeated suggestion from
| that it would be advisable to postpone
the general disarmament conference
called for next February the Wash
ington administration is more decided
than ever to carry out the original pro-
gram to hold the conference as
scheduled.
Foreign diplomatic representatives
have recently approached the State
Department with the intention OF feelA
ing the ground as to whether this Gov
eminent would be willing to initiate
a move for postponement of the confer
ence. Their argument Is that important
elections are to be held next year i'll
! Germany, France and Hungary as well
as in the United States. Thus, If the
disarmament conference begins before
these elections, the work OF the main
representatives of these four countries
at Geneva is bound to be very much
handicapped
The administration realizes this and
also realizes, what the foreign Ambassa-
| doris do not say openly, that present
political conditions in Europe are not
such a. to fp",.ltate an understanding
between the various antagonlstlc nations
which will be represented at the Geneva
| Conference.
1t appears, however that just on nc
count OF these unsettled political con-
ditions. the administration Is not willing
! to take the lead in postponing con-
| ference which, il 1t does not achieve
the desired result, will at least show
which nations are preventing general
settlement of the world on a peaceful
basis.
Suspicion and Jealousy Rampant.
The political sky of the world Is over
cast with heavy clouds; suspicion and
jealousy are more rampant today than
ever before Yet, in spite Of these I'M
favorable signs. the State Department
at President Hoover's instruction Is
getting ready for the Geneva Confer
ence and will not abandon 1t unless the
powers which have suggested 1t def
nitely decide that 1t should not be held.
Despite the unsettled situation IN
Europe. the belief Of the administration
! is that the abscess from which Europe
Is suffering most-heavy armament ex-
| penditure-must be opened The ad-
ministration is going to that conference
with a clear conscience; during the past
month il has done all IN its power 10
/ help Europe at heavy cost to the
! American taxpayer and without show
/ ing any partially to single European
state.
/ Furthermore. when this administra-
ton had the possibility OF isolatlng
France politically 1T refused to do so,
although there were many who advised
! the President to make such a political
move Immediately after the Hoover
| plan for an intergovernmental debt and
Preparations holiday was known and
France did not react favorably. most OF
Frances allies. with the exception of
Belgium. were prepared to abandon her.
The President was urged to go ahead
with his original plan regardless of
France.
In spite of this temptation, Mr.. Hoover
decided that since this country reacted
favorably to the idea of inducing all
European countries to cooperate in the
economic as we'll as the political field,
it would be unWiSe to isolate France.
Consequently. he made up his mind to
give in to the French as much as was
compatible with the spirit of his plan.
AS result. today France maintains her
system of alliances and Is likely to pre-
sent a united front at the coming gen.
eral disarmament conference.
Jeopardy Realized Here.
It Is realized here, however, that the
prospects OF a successful end of the
Geneva parley VIII De 1eoparQlZeo II an
agreement between France and Ger
many is not reached in time. While the
United States Government cannot di-
rectly ask the Germans to make certain
political concessions to France. Chan
cellor Heinrich Bruening is being ad-
vised by the Presidents emissaries that
it would be wise for the German gov
eminent to make certain moves which
might be agreeable to France.
k>n, ,f 4lNa Y1@t 80
the second pocket cruiser is considered
here as most likely move for Germany
to make In view of the disastrous eco
nomic situation of Germany, it is
thought here that the Bruening cabinet
would not meet with very serious oppo-
sition from the nation If it announces
that it intends to postpone further work