LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19611, 6 May 1929, Page 11

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.

METHODS DISCUSSED.

GOOD FAITH NOT SUFFICIENT.

(VXIISO PRESS ASSOCIATION—ST BLJCTBIC TELtOBAPH—COPYKISBT.)

GENEVA, May 3

The Preparatory Commission on Disarmament is discussing a method by which reserves of war material should be determined. The German, Bussiaa, and several other delegations favour a system of returns of the various categories of arms, which is termed the direct method.

Lor Cushenun declared Britain's willingness to accept any agreement favoured by the majority. Lord Cushendun gave his opinion regarding the two methods of limitation of war material which had been put forward, namely, direct limitation and Budgetary limitation.

He said that he considered that direct limitation was the obvious and ideal method, except that it could not be applied without some form of international control. Mr Hugh Gibson, United States delegate, had urged this system, but he did not think that the United States would permit an International Commission to investigate its armaments, and he could say the same for England. With these two countries refusing international control, the direct system of limiting war material became impossible. Another proposal was that disarmament should be left to the good faith of those concerned. Without something moro complete than good faith, however, he feared that international suspicion would only be increased. He preferred the French proposal for Budgetary limitation which, while it was not ideal, he considered a step in the right direction.—Australian Press Association. DIRECT METHOD REJECTED (Beceived May sth, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, May 4. The Commission, by 22 votes to 2. resolved, having rejected the system or direct limitation of war material, that limitation and reduction must be sought by means of control of expenditure, which will be dealt with in examining the articles in the Draft Convention as already adopted. The Chinese and Soviet delegations voted against the motion, Germany abstaining from voting.—Australian Press Association, United Service. U.S. ATTITUDE UNCHANGED. (Eeceived May sth, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 4. It is stated that President Hoover is displeased with reports that the United States has changed her attitude on the reduction of armaments, based on recent developments at Geneva, and is understood to regard such reports as circulated for mischievous purposes. Officials state that no instructions or implications, direct or indirect, for such change gone to Mr Hugh Gibson, the American delegate.—Australian Press Association.