DISARMAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1927, Page 7

DISARMAMENT.

POWERS AT GENEVA.

Draft Convention Presented to

Conference.

WORLD'S GREATEST PROBLEM.

(By Cable—Pre*, AiwodaHoa —ConrrirM i

GENEVA. March 22. The opening of the conference of the I reparatory Committee on Disarmament took place at Geneva vesterdav. •

Viscount (Veil present a draft convention, which conta.ned the following provisions: —

(1) The contractant, to inform tJj(s Secretary -General of the of Nat.ona every rear the amount thev propose to spend on land, naval and a,Y armaments during that rear

for«L The ,inii,J,,ion of effective land

(31 The tonnapc of any one ship, the mimlK-r and tonnage of all ship* U its to ft* ? Ul,n! ° f ,W P™ not to exceed the fibres laid down. M) The oontractants to accept the V\a.h, nß ton Naval Agreement, the limitation of Bir armaments to he effected lTt^ n r inJ L ,h< \ "* aircraft attached to shore bases to 50.

One chapter dealt with the procedure o bo adopted in cases of violation of tho invention, the duration of which would be 10 vears.

Lord Cecil said the convention did not propose definite figures, which would remain to be settled by a conference, possibly ,n June, The convention did not prevent contractants from increasing their armaments beyond the figures tf tho prospective treaty in the following cases:—(l) Of a war in which a cW: tractant would be the belligerent: (2) of a threatened rebellion; (3) of an emergency involving serious miiitarv operation; (4) in case such an increasV «ere agreed to by the Council of the League,

Lord Cecil said the development of modern armament* since the last war had been such that the greatest problem facing the world to-dav was whether adyanUge could be taken of tbe present lull to build up safeguards which would prevent another, war which might end civilisation.

The Disarmament Commission must demonstrate that a reduction or limitation of armaments wa* a practical possibility. After that each nation must declare its position regarding armaments.

M. Paul Boncour (France) announced that he would submit a plan cmbodvin» the views of the French Government.

Signor di Marinis (Italy) said that if all tho other Powers reduced their armament*, Italy would be readv to follow suit, but her geographical position should not be overlooked.