Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-16
FAILURE IS FEARED
FOR ARMS FARLEY
Postponement May Be Asked
Until World Tension
Is EaSed.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

n1 RAUL ON'OAl wv W kNEANs
BY Gable to The star.
PARIS, August 15.--Now that the
immediate dangers Of the Central Eu-
ropean financial crisis have been some
what attenuated. the attention Of gov
ernniept chancelleries is once more
turning to the Disarmament Conference
on the land, sea and air forces Of all
countries, scheduled to open In Geneva
February under the presidency OF
British Foreign Minister Arthur Hem
derson and under the auspices Of the
League of Nations.
This conference Is of such moment
and on such scale that it is utterly un-
prece6ented in the history of the world.
Every one agrees that It must succeed,
for failure would be tragic, yet almost
every one also agrees that 1t could
hardly come at more inopportune
moment
Thanks to political agitation for re-
vision Of the treaties on one hand, and
to opposition to such revision on the
other, the international atmosphere In
Europe today is anything but friendly
and confident. The business and finan-
cial crisis, which more or less affects
every country and hence logically ought
to draw all countries together on the
basis OF common interests, thus far has
had almost the opposite result
In consequence, nearly all the major
powers, instead Of seeking reasons why
they should disarm, are now engaged
In explaining to the rest of the world
reasons why they cannot disarm. Each
looks askance on the ornaments, actual
or potential, of the others, while claim
ing that its own ornaments are exceed
ingly modest and wholly defensive.
Each, instead OF seeking In the Dis
armament Conference a means Of per-
fecting the peace Of the world and
creating a better feeling among nations,
seems to be bent mainly on keeping or
gaining some national advantage at the
others expense,
Preliminary Positions Clear.
Preliminary positions are being taken
rapidly. Germany has officially re-
jeeted the conclusions OF the Prelimi-
nary Disarmament Commission, which
vas supposed to form the basis for the
forthcoming deliberations, and unless
other powers disarm down to the Ger
man level it claims the right TO arm
up to theirs
British Prime Minister Ramsay Mac
Donald stated formally in the House of
Commons few weeks ago that Great
Britain had already diSarmed to the
limit and could not possibly cut another
man or ton.
France has followed with a memo
randum taking credit for alleged drastic
cuts in French ornaments and stating
that further cuts are impossible unless
arrangements for mutual aid against
aggression are agreed upon.
The United States considers the naval
armament question settled in the Wash
ington and London conferences. as far
as concerns itself. and that as far as
land armament is concerned, our Army
is so small that We are not interested.
Statements Requested.
The Soviet Uni1n says that Il Is ready
to abolish ornaments altogether, but
meanwhile 1t maintsinS the largest
standing army in the world
Italy Is also ready to reduce to any
level but with an important proviso--
namely. that Italy's ornaments shall be
equal to these Of the strongest conti-
mental power.
The League Of Nations has requested
all countries 10 make n uniform state
ment on their armaments by Septem-
Der 5. The United States, Great Brit
ain. France and several others already
have complied
But Rtssia's reply came in sealed
envelope. marked not 70 pe opened untn
the conference itself, ana In these con-
dltsons Poland has announced that II
viii be unable 70 reveal its armed
strength until Russia does. Negotia-
tons on this point are said 10 be under
way between Russia ana Poland.
Contrary 70 the earnest hope Of the
American Government, the naval quar-
rel among france, Italy and Great
Britain, which keeps the London treaty
, stan incomplete, Il not yet settled 90
that, with the conference only i've
months distant. there is danger that
this quarrel win be revived unpropi-
ttously In the conference itself.
Elections Disgusting.
Finally. there are disgusting inter-
Tor political complications siFaultane-
ouslg with the Disarmament Conference
which win last, Il is thought, ~ least
from three to six months. the freedom
Of action 81 several governments viii be
/ hainpefed By the proximity Of elections
The United States viii be III the full
swing Of presidential campaign. Tiae
Exeneh and legislative elections eOnae
H. - MN Aor4Tt ~ Nnnan Elne