STRIVING FOR PEACE

Evening Star, Issue 19542, 28 April 1927, Page 10

STRIVING FOR PEACE

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS

CHEMICAL WARFARE BANNED,

Press Association—By Copyright.

GENEVA, April 26,

The Preparatory Disarmament Committee has reached unanimity regarding the article undertaking to abstain from poison gas and bacteriological warfare and the preparation fpr this .in peace time. Tno article also prohibits the importation, exportation, and manufacture. of substances intended for chemical warfare.

INSUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES

A PESSIMISTIC REPORT,

: LONDON, April 27. The ‘Corning Post’s’ Geneva correspondent Says : “ Striving to feign optimism, the Preparatory Disarmament Commission has closed. The constructive results are chiefly a revelation of the almost'insuperable difficulties in the way of disarmament or even of the limitation of armaments. Everyone admits that Mr Cooliclge’s three-Power naval conference in’June will largely determine whether the League’s scheme of real disarmament will advance further at the next meeting in November. The president’s closing remarks to-day hardly concealed his pessimism and disappointment.” Count Bernstorlf received the • pressmen after the conference had closed, when he declared that disarmament was tho League’s true role, but the instructions of the various Governments to their delegates showed little desire for actual disarmament. Germany’s objective was not tho stabilisation of armaments., but a real reduction of naval, military, and air personnel and material.

AIR FLEET FOR LEAGUE,

LONDON, April 27

The most important question before the Air Commission is tho receipt of a last-minute request from the League of Nations to have its own fleet of aeroplanes for urgent communications. The Commission decided that there was no objection to the proposal, and fixed special markings in the event of any country lending machines to the League. The 1 Morning Post ’ says the request might convey the impression that the League is trying to form an independent European State. There is no question of the League wanting to use the fleet to enforce its orders upon any country; but this may be the possible outcome.