DISARMAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 65, 14 September 1926, Page 7

DISARMAMENT

LEAGUE'S SUPREME TASK

HOPELESS COMPLEXITY OF

PROBLEM

BEVEALED BY DEBATE AT

GENEVA.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 14th September, 1 p.m.)

GENEVA, 13 th September

Disarmament is the League's supreme task, but tho hopeless complexity of the problem was revealed in the debate of the Third Commission, which reached no decision. The debate was initiated upon a pro- | posed convention controlling the private | manufacture of arms as a corollary to tho convention for the control of tho | traffic iv arms.

After an hour's discussion, Mr. Latham (Australia) pointed out that it was of little use discussing the separate phases of the subject, while general disarmament was held up in uncertainty.

Count Bernstorff (Germany) promptly pledged Germany's loyal and assiduous co-operation in the task of disarmament and suggested to refer all inter-Allied issues to a preparatory Commission.

M. Paul Boncour (Franco) pointed out the plight of smaller States who did not own arsenals. He said that it would be fatal to the League's prestige if tho idea got abroad that the League had only staged an academic discussion. This might be the casi?, if Governments went on accepting, without ratifying, conventions. Personally hi' was a firm believer that a successful general disarmament conference was possible sooner than many imagined.

Lord Onslow voiced Britain's desire for caution. He said that the smaller States were seized with the necessity of not jeopardising general disarmament by a preliminary conference upon the manufacture of arms.

Finally M. Jouhaux (Franco) tabled a motion that unless it was.evident a general disarmament conference would bo held before next Assembly, a separate conference upon the manufacture of arms be convened at the earliest date.