Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-22

brought before the italian public Italy,
though in serious financial difficulties,
decided to cut down some important
expenditures Of an economic character
in order to be able to build UP to the
French naval strength. France Is afraid
that the coming Geneva conference
might have the same effect on all Euro
pean nations; that a failure Of the
conference would have as result an
increased armament race, while by let
ting sleeping dogs lie disarmament
would come by itself as q natural result
Of depleted treasures.
All the same, since the United States
is SO keenly interested in the question
of disarmament, the French premier
will be prepared to discuss at length
this matter with the President and the
PEELED, however to remind them both
that 95 per cent of the French people
have adopted the slogan, Safety first,
disarmament after" Il does not matter
how paciflcally inclined Laval may be,
he must always remember the majority
Of his cabinet and some 500 members
of the French Chamber, to say nothing
Of the rank and file OF the nation which
is watching him through the lynx eyes
of the representatives Of the French
press who are accompanying him, would
rather part company with him than
give up the idea of security FIRST"
The French government Is only mod
erately interested in the question OF
war debts reduction. 1t realizes, how
ever, that, in view of the fact that the
collection of reparations from Germany
has become problematical, this matter
must be discussed and a basis for an
understanding with the United States
must be reached sooner or later. The
French government Is reported to be
willing to accept substantial slashes In
the reparations provided the United
States agrees to make equal SlaShes IN
the war debts. Whether some basis Tor
an agreement can be reached during
the visit Of the French premier Is an
open question.
MANY of the most important men,
bers of the American Senate consider
such an agreement futile unless II Is
preceded by definite promise on the
part of the debtor nations that they
will reduce the armament expenditure.
without such an undertaking 1t Is most
unlikely that the President can make
any move towards reduction OF war
debts. Consequently the French and
the American leaders find themselves
confronted with definite ideas. On our
side: Disarmament first: then we will
see what can be done about security
Disarmament first, then we will see
what can be done about debt reduction
or cancellation" On the part Of the
French: Security first. and we agree
to anything else you may suggest and
will cooperate whole-hes rtedly with
you to put the world on its feet again.
The question of the gold which the
two nations possess and which repre-
sents about 70 per cent Of the total
amount available in the world, will be
debated by the President, Laval, Mellon
and the financial experts who are ac-
companying the French premier. 1t Is
stated in we'll informed quarters that
some kind of a common policy will be
the result of these conversations. How
effective this common policy will be Is
difficult to say at present.
The root of all the present troubles
are laid to political misunderstanding
A high official expressed his views on
this matter as follows: If the house is
cold although the thermostat shows 80
degrees it is no good trying to repair
the thermoStat. You have TO 60 into
the basement and repair the furnace"