AMERICAN PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 7 December 1932, Page 7

AMERICAN PLAN.

ARMS PROGRESS. PROPOSED PACT. Convention to Include All Agreed Points. SUCCESS ACCLAIMED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1.30 p.m.; RUGBY, December 0. Geneva reports good progress at yesterday's disarmament conversations, and it is stated that tentative agreement between British, American, French and Italian delegates was reached on what is called the American plan, providing a basis for an immediate convention. The main feature of the American proposal is the provision "lor an immediate convention to run until 1936 when the naval agreement now in force expires, this document to embody, interalia, formal recognition of Germany's right to arms equality and France's right to security, both to be worked out within the next three years. There are also provisions regarding the limitation of land gun calibres, the size of tanks, a 33 1-3 per cent reduction in effectives, the abolition of air bombing, gas, germ and flame warfare, and the adhesion of France and Italy to the London Naval Treaty. It is understood the German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath, regards the proposal as unacceptable in its present form, and that M. Herriot is also critical. The practical application of the principles of the proposed convention would be worked out by the Permanent Commission, which would apparently have the same constitution as the existing General Committee of the Disarmament Conference, all nations being represented by a permanent delegate. The Permanent Commission would also prepare the way for a new conference in three years' time. Achievements Recognised. "The Times," commenting on the Geneva developments, agrees that ardent advocates of far-reaching reductions will regard the results to be obtained on the present record of the conference as meagre indeed. It points out that the only hostile votes given against the July resolution were those of Germany and Itussia, but both dissented because it did not go far enough. Over 40 States subscribed to the contents of the resolution by which it was agreed that all heavy land artillery, in respect to mount and calibre, should be limited, that the maximum unit of tonnage of tanks should be similarly limited, that all chemical and incendiary warfare should be abolished and air attack against civilian populations absolutely prohibited. "The Times" continues: "In the aggregate these self-imposed restrictions mark a definite acceptance by all the signatory nations of the principle of limitation, which so far only applies on land to the countries vanquished in the war, and on the sea by their own deliberate act to five of the principal naval Powers. Its extension would at least constitute the most favourable base from which advance could later be made to substantial all-round reductions."

NO COMPROMISE. Reported Failure of Attempt to Reach Accord. FRANCE AND GERMANY'S CLAIM LONDON, December 6. A dinner party given last evening by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, at Geneva, was without result. Indeed, cynics suggest that the festival was in the nature of a funeral wake with the Disarmament Conference as the corpse. Latest advices from Geneva show that all day efforts on the part of Mr. MacDonald, Sir John Simon and Mr. Norman Davis (United States), to induce the French Prime Minister, M. Herriot, to meet Germany's claim for equality were of little avail. Baron von Neurath, German Foreign Minister, had an hour's interview with Mr. Mac Donald directly he arrived at Geneva. This was most cordial, but except at the dinner party, M. Herriot and Baron von Neurath seem to be avoiding each other.