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of German military conscription? Japan introduced con- scription in 1873, Y. Takata in his Conscription System in Japan, after mentioning the adoption of conscription in France and then in Prussia, eaid: 1t wes natural that the Japanese authorities, who Were in pressing need uf a new military aystem, should follow the European example. The aduptiun of the sys- ten was, however, nut an easy matter. Sirong objections were raised against this new eysteu, for it was nol com- patible with the feudal spirit, with which the whule people were saturated. In 1926, prominent citizens of fouricen countries signed a manifesto to give substance to President Wilson's earlicr proposal to make conscription illesal in all coun- tries alitiated in the League of Nations. This plea read: We call for some definite atena toward complete die armament and the demilitarizing of the mind of civilized Rations. The most effective measure toward this would be ihe universal abolition ef conscription. We there fore, ask the Learuc of Nations to propose the aboli- tion of compulsory military service in all countries as 4 first step toward true disarmament. It is our belief that conscript armies, with their large corps of professional officers, are the grave menace to peace, Conscription im volves the degtadation of human personality and the de aruction of liberty. 2 WHAT PROPOSALS ARE BEING MADE FORT PEACETIME CONSCRIPTION ON THE Bs, AV WI FETE! crarras EARL WE A it il Rh? OPEL The May Bill, IER. 3947, introduced January 11, M11, by Chairman Andrew J. May of the louse Military Affairs Connuittee, would provide that every young man upon attaining the age of 17 or upon the campiction of ehigh school whichever first occurs, shall be inducted into the army ar navy for a peried of one year for military training, For eight years he would be enrolled in the reserves and subject to refresher training. This bill would become effective when the preacut Selective Train- ing am] Service Act expircs. 5. 701 and H.R. 1866 were introducod February 11, [4] 19-43, by Senator Chan Gurney, of South Dakotr Representative James W. Wadsworth, of New York. provides that every male citizen aud every male shall, upon attaining the age of 18 years or within years thereafier, be subject to military training anc be inducted into the army or navy for a period « year, Then he shall be enrolicd as a reserve in th or naval forces Cor four years, and subject to add refresher training. This would become effecti months after the war is ended. There have be hearings on either the May Bill or the Gurney-Wad: Bill. According ta the New York Times of April 27, a proposal for a universal military training syste: submitted to the House Commiltce on Post War M Policy by Brigadier General Palmer. The Mash Post, in a front page article on May 11, 19-44, sa) “the Army and Navy have agreed upon the basic « of a program for universal military service after ih but the Budget Bureau is keeping the plan under The Anny-Navy plan seems to contenrplate the p of some sort of national service legislation sincc cludes training f for those physic nally disqualified fo hat duty ‘who will be destined for war industrics. year’s military training for every male citizen of m age is proposed.” Universal milltary training has hee late Secrelary of Navy Knox, Major ‘General Ik bead of Selective Service, J. Edear Jioover, of the } Bureau of Investigation, and others in the covernm n advocated 3. WHAT WERE THE CINEF REASONS ' LED TO THE REJECTION OF PEACE CONSCRIPTION IN 1920? Some of the reasons advanced in Congress | the adoption of pracetime conse ription in 19200 w following: a. The excessive cost and burden of re taxation b. The resultant reduction of the nation’s | fs]