REAL DISARMAMENT WANTED.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20773, 6 February 1933, Page 9

REAL DISARMAMENT WANTED.

BURDEN TOO HEAVY FOR NATIONS. CAPTAIN EDEN'S STATEMENTS. (BRITISH OrWCIAI. WI&BLESB-) RUGBY, February 4. At the meeting of the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference, the British programme of work designed to expedite the work of the Conference, with a view to achieving concrete results before Easter, was referred to by the British delegate, Captain R. A. Eden (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), who declared it was imperative that the Conference should concern itself at once with the reduction of armaments.

"We now wish the Conference, in its second year, to do what the public opinion of the world wishes, namely, achieve a real reduction •in world armaments, which may serve as a basis for still further reduction," -he said. "The burden of taxation makes such a reduction imperative. The need for security malies it not one whit less important." Captain Eden amused the Commission by suggesting in his speech the making of an armistice and the limitation of plans for the limitation of armaments. What was needed, he said, was coordination, so that practical results couM be achieved. The British Government considered thao in the Covenant of the League and the Locarno Treaty Great Britain had gone as far as she could in assuming definite commitments in Europe. Ho oould give no encouragement that the British attitude could be modified, or that Great Britain could undertake new obligations, to which British public opinion was unalterably opposed, but ho declared that security was now sufficiently guaranteed to permit of a real measure of disarmament. The debate was adjourned until Monday.

STATEMENT REGARDED AS IMPORTANT. GREAT BRITAIN'S GUARANTEE. (Received LONDON, February 4. The statement at Geneva by Captain E. A. Eden (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) is regarded as an important pronouncement. "Wo feel that wo have contributed what" we can, by our guarantee, to achieve security, and we do not feel that by such methods we can contribute more." In these and other explicit words, Captain Eden gave a direct answer to the Fronch disarmament plan, which some authorities at Geneva believe will be cordially approved. It is time the conference should be reminded of the virtually unanimous public opinion in Great Britain.