DISARMAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 18, 21 July 1932, Page 11

DISARMAMENT

AGREEMENT AT GENEVA

PRINCIPLES SETTLED

DRAFT RESOLUTION

(BrlUsb Official Wireless.) (Received 21st July, 11 a-mj

RUGBY, 20th July,

An agreement was reached to-day at! Geneva between the delegates to the Disarmament Conference of Britain^ theyUuited States, France, and Italy, settling the principle, of'the limitation of laud artillery. This was the ■ last outstanding point for incorporation in. the draft resolution, prepared -by. Sir John Simon and Dr. Bencs surveying the agreements reached during , the first stago of the Conference.. The resolution was submitted to.a. meeting of the General Commission of the Cohfer- ! ence. this afternoon by Dr..Bones in the 'absence',of Sir-John Simon, who. rei turned to London. ;.. •...-..; - ; •.•,-■-.'

■ The agreement regarding heavy land -artillery accepts the 'principle that it should .be limited as to calibre in accordance with a' convention to be considered later? The agreement provides "maximum limits for coastal guns,; fortress guns, and/mobile >land guns. ,

.The terms of" the resolution survey the agreements made for .the limitation of land, naval, and air armaments. Kegardihg air disarmament: it provides for the absolute prohibition' of air attacks against civil "populations and for" an agreement as between themselves of the contracting, parties for the abolition of air bombardment! The lat-: ter provision is -.subject to. an; : &gree-. inent l-egarding the measures to. beadopted for securing observance of.the rtule. These measures-mil include limitation of numbersi. and restriction, of. characteristics of military aircraft and' the mobilisation and other measures in, regard to civil aircraft -to prevent misuse ■'■■•'.■■■■■■■..■'■.■ ■■:■'..■ •'."■'..:■•-■■.".■'■'■"-

The resolution .also- provides for the Budgetary Committee to continue its studies on limitation of;.armaments expenditure, and the Standing Committee of the Conference will draft :proposals based upon -its report. Another special Committee set up | under the resolution,will submit pro-' posals regarding the manufacture of and trade in implements of • war. Chemical, bacteriological, Jind incen- ' diary warf aro aro prohibited. I Regarding the strict limitation and reduction of all effectives: the Standing Order Committee is asked;to. examine and report on President Hoover's proposals, consideration being given to requirements of national defences. Regarding naval disarmament the parties to "tho Naval Treaties of Washington and London are to confer and report to the General Commission, if possible, beforo resumption of work of the Conference as to further measures feasible as part of tho general disarmament programme;