DISARMAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 120, 21 May 1926, Page 8

DISARMAMENT

INDEFINITELY SHELVED

FRANCE < AND ITALY UN SYMPATHETIC.

(Australian-New Zealand Cable Asm.) (Received 21st May, 3 p.m.) LONDON, This Day. The diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that he understands that the Disarmament Commission is adjourning from Saturday, possibly until after the meeting of the League of Nations Assembly. This is, of course, tantamount to the indefinite shelving of the whole disarmament question. Recognition of this will cause bitter disappointment in America, Britain, and Scandinavia, though numerous Continental Powers will heave a sigh of relief. These nations throughout have been determined to side-track disarmament.' The matter will now be transmitted to sub-committees, which virtually consist of the League's technical organisations plus German and American experts. Continental Europe, and particularly that group including France and her Eastern Allies and the Russian border States, have not yet the will , for disarmament, though the French Government was desirous of avoiding an open conflict with! London and Washington. France accordingly has' ensured that a preparatory Commission shall thresh cut the question of disarmament or show the futility of summoning a plenary conference. It must be admitted that the present state of Europe favours the French opinions, such as the refusal of Russia to attend the Disarmament Conference, the civil war in Poland, and the fact that Germany is still outside the League. France still considers that the security provided at Locarno is inadequate. Lord Cecil's pacific spirit has not evoked the slightest response from France and Italy in connection with submarines, and even on the seas disarmament is a very slow and partial process.