PAINFULLY SLOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 7

PAINFULLY SLOW.

PESSIMISM GROWS. U.S. Delegate's Desire to Save Disarmament Conference. STIR OVER BRITISH AIR PLAN. United P. A.—Electric Telegraph-Copy AgM) (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The week closed with an atmosphere of pessimism concerning the outcome of the Disarmament Conference. French opinion in Paris, convinced that there is no chance of reaching agreement before June 12, consoles itself with the reflection that there is no real connection between the Disarmament Conference and the World Economic Conference.

The rate of progress at Geneva is painfully slow. It is understood that the United States delegate, Mr. Norman Davis, had an interview with the French Premier, M. Daladier, to-day in an effort to secure a modification of the French attitude.

The suggestion has been made that the conference adjourn from June 10 until October, but Mr. Davis is determined to hold the conference together, even if it overlaps with the World Economic Conference.

A British proposal for the complete abolition of aerial bombardment, except for police purposes, in outlying regions, passed its first reading at yesterday's sitting of the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference. The reservation, however, produced a storm.

The opinion was sarcastically expressed that the intention was to reserve police bombing for citizens within a country's own frontiers. It was wondered why remote regions were to enjoy fruits of civilisation, in which those nearer to a metropolis were not to participate.

Among others who condemned aerial bombardment was Dr. Wellington Koo. He instanced China's sufferings as the result of foreign raids.

Mr. Wilson (America) declared that the United States believed the abolition of aerial bombing must be absolute, unqualified and universal. They must capitalise the growing conviction that bombing was a crime. Any exceptions would vitiate that moral force.

Herr Nadolny said Germany was prepared to go to all possible lengths to prevent civil aeroplanes being used for military purposes.

Captain Anthony Eden (Britain) explained the necessity for the bombing of unruly tribes. This prevented the employment of numbers of troops, which would result in increased casualties. Moreover, a warning of such raids, which was usually given, sufficed.

Captain Eden said he did not think Iraq would abandon 'the possibility of resorting to aerial bombing. Britain would be prepared to say which regions were involved in the exception. If the commission accepted the British figures, the Air Forces would be reduced 50 per cent.

DIMINISHING NAVY. British Admiral's Biblical Quotation. DANGER TO THE EMPIRE. (Keceived 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, speaking at a gathering of the R.N.V.R. Old Comrades in London, said: "Sentimental politicians are doing their best to dissipate the Empire for which we fought. Some of us are wondering where it will end, especially when we find at Geneva -how anxious everyone appears to be to ensure that Britain should be the first to disarm while other nations are busily arming. The old scriptural injunction, 'the strong man armed keepeth peace' should not be forgotten by England today."