Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-09

Some Americans look upon the pro-
posal of Joseph Paul Boncour that the
Council of the League of Nations be
authorized 70 use the armed forces OF
the member countries in preventing
aggressive war as merely q counter
suggestion to the charge that France
is opposed to disarmament 1t IS not
generally conceded that France expects
favorable action by other countries. but
it is suggested that the plan presented
by the head of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittee of the French Chamber OF
Deputies is intended as possible means
Of retreat al the disarmament confer
ence. American participation Is con-
sidered an impoSsibility.
1T is patent effort" says the Louis
Vile Courier-Journal. Ito eXtricate
France from its position of militaristic
isolation. and to escape the blame for
the failure of next years disarmament
conference" That paper argues: The
proposal is not made with the idea that
it will be accepted. but that it will be
rejected. France has no intention of
reducing It's army and navy, but it
would like 10 avoid the onus of being
the sole nation opposing reduction. >
The Courier journal advises that dis
trust and suspicion are too rife for
such millennial schemes" ana contends
that France itself would not accept
the plan unless 1t could control the
League of Nations"
1T is outside of the policy and the SEN
timent of the times" remarks the Oak
land Tribune. for any nation to assert
anything but friendliness to an arms
limitation program. Expressions Of will
lingness however, may be coupled with
provisions and detailed programs. that
a way for a graceful exit may be pre-
pared in case the conference discussion
or decision is not satisfactory. The
spokesman for France Is for
an arms limitation which must recog-
nize certain conditions. He is on rec
ord that he may favor or refuse any
plan which comes out of the confer
ence."
1.-THE key provision of Frances mill
tary program" according to the Hart
ford Times, has been that she must
have security. if not in terms of inter-
national guarantee. then by means
of her own armed establishment
Since her fears are almost wholly with
regard to Germany and Italy, the Sc
curitv offered by the pooled armies and
naves of the world would be quite am
pie. To state the suggestion is to de-
feat it, as far as American support OF
il is concerned" The Port Huron
Times Herald states: France has made
an effective gesture Of its desire to work
with nsighbor nations to maintain the
national status quo. OF course, the
statesmen in France are wise enough to
know that in the present situation 1t
can be nothing more than gesture"
The suggestions are contained in .
memorandum which is receiving atten-
tior throughout the world, and particu
in Europe" records the San An
Noo.p Express. Though the French
governments spokesman state that 1t
cannot accept responsibility for the ut
terances. doubtless it will study the re-
action to them at home and abroad
The Asbury Park Press calls tie plan
"as sensible as it is Utopian." and con-
cludes, whether the world is ready for
the progressive step that he suggests is
doubtful. At least, it has been shown
the way"
1T is wholly impracticable," AYERS
the New York Herald Tribune. of
fcial France, of course, knows this as
well as any one else, and it Is obvious
from the very language which M. Paul
Roncour uses that his proposal Is not
seriously intended as a means Of Sc
curing disarmament. 1t is intended as
means of placing Frances attitude
upon the question in a more favora bile
light. Are other nations, like US,
ready? he asks. Are they willing to
put their permanent air. naval and
land forces under the control and at
the disposition of the League CT Ma
tons" He knows. that they are not.
But merely by the asking of the ques-
ton he shows that Frances critics are
tarred with the same brush which they
have been applying to the French
Others would be just as obdurate in
resisting sacrifices which France might
ask as France has been In resisting
sacrifices that Grs ask Of her. The