ARMAMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 211, 5 September 1924, Page 5

ARMAMENTS.

REDUCTION QUESTION.

DISCUSSED BT THE LEAGUE. ARBITRATING DISPUTES. ray Cable. — Association.—Copyrlglit.) IReceived 1.30 p.m.p GENEVA, September 4. Ur. Ramsay MaeD~nnld opened the debate on the reduction of armaments with a speech of an hour's duration. lie said ' ie would do his utmost to lay the foundations of pence, and emphasised that all the delegations of which he was the chief were determined to put all iheir ideas in a common pool. Britain did not subscribe to the pact of mutual assistance not because she was indifferent to tlie public security, but because she felt they bad not yet properly prepared the soil. Britain wished to carry out every letter of her obligation, but would not sign nn indefinable proposal which, if she tried to carry out, public opinion would probably make impossible, hat the last word had not been said in the pact. We must have the whole world with u=. he declared. They could not afford to let Germany remain outside the League. Tbe London Conference created a new relation, and should bring Germany into the assembly. the matter should be taken up by this assembly. Russia had changed, and the Anglo-Russian agreement was paving tho wav for Russia to enter the League;

Dealing with the question of security, J[r. Mac Donald pointed out that the difficulty was establishing who was the jng.es.-r. He dwelt ou a system of arbitration, and said: "If we are unable to elaborate a proper system of arbitration then we must return to military pacts. The pact should clearly define the nature of the obligation.

PREPARING THE WAT. Mr. Mac Donald emphasised that the optional arbitration clause should be thoroughly examined before Britain and the Dominions could give adherence to it. Arbitration was directed at tbe problem of armaments. He pointed out as rcards naval armaments that Britain" had fulfilled the Washington agreement as she had fulfilled all agreements. The way must be prepared for conference on armaments, as without preparation the Conference Would be a failure. All nations must participate in that conference. The London agreement had helped to prepare the way* Britain adhered to the covenant of the tegue, and did not desire to weaken it. Certain articles in the covenant could be tmbodicd in the Charter of Peace. The matter should be referred to tbe committee before the Assembly separated, while members worked to enlighten public opinion in their own countries.

llr. Mac Donald and M. Herriot warmly shook hands before leaving the Assembly, Which adjourned till the afternoon.

Mr. lit. Charlton (Australia) Was the third speaker in the disarmaments debate, following Polish Foreign Minister. Unlike -his ; predecessors, he read the greater part, though apparently quite unabashed by the great gathering assembled in the hope of hearing M. Herriot. Mr. Charlton commenced quietly, but quickly caught the prevalent habit of gesticulation, and ended on a high key. Sis speech Waß almost Wholly devoted to pressing the claim for an early disarmaments Conference, considering, unlike Mr. Mac Donald, that the psychological moment had arrived, Such a conference would tend to establish more cordial relations between tho nations and bring about a spirit of sweet reasonableness. The prospect of relief from the heavy burden of armaments would induce all to come Within the jurisdiction of the League.

ANXIETY OF FRANCE. The London Pact had relieved the position considerably so far as France and other nations were concerned. France's anxiety regarding security wouid be relieved if a general reduction of armaments were effected, leaving in' ternational disputes to be settled by arbitration "or any other method Which way be devised." Mr. Charlton added that if something ilclinito wero not done aiow the public would lose confidence in the League, and tho world.would slip back into War in a few years. The Australian Government had set a good example by inviting him, as leader, to.attend the assembly. This was not a political question, and should be dealt with froiu an international standpoint. (Applause from the galleries). ! "Governments disappear," he continued, "but this question remains, Every phase of political thought should ho represented at its discussion. The league Worked well, but the public Wanted somclhing tangible. The burden of armaments was incrcasL-jg, and the cost of tho League's" operations w-as increasing, The public wanted disarmament."—(Reuter.)

Mr. Charlton added that if a conference were convened by the League forthwith the public would be convinced that something was being attempted at last. Whilst certain nations, armed to the teeth; possessed adjacent borders w those connected with the League, it was apparent that all must maintain strong military strength. The concluding portion of the speech Was delivered ex tempore, Mr. Charlton Pepping back from the desk and abandoning himself to familiur Australian Platform methods. Jfr. Mac Donald listened intently throughout, and at the finish left the tall. Previously he had told Mr. Charlton that sudden action towards disarmament was unwise. Mr. Charlton's speech failed to arouse enthusiasm, possibly partly due to a reaction frota tho morhing's excitement. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)