REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 9

REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS

THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION « BIG STEP fOBWABD Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. GENEVA, November 27. The Disarmament Commission passed unanimously the British proposal to establish a Permanent Disarmament Commission at Geneva to supervise the execution of the convention. Lord Cecil described the commission as a great step towards a reduction of armaments, A clause proposed by the United States, permitting a nation to deviate from tho convention when national security was menaced, was adopted by 23 votes to 1. POLICY OF EXPENDITURE BRITISH PROPOSAL ADOPTED. (Bvitiih Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, November 26. Considerable progress bas been made in the past few days by the Preparatory Disarmament Commission at Geneva This was continued yesterday, when it was decided to close the second rending of the draft convention, during which several difficult issues were surmounted. Tho third reading will begin to-day on tho text of the convention as it now stands, A British amendment to the article of the policy of expenditure was adopted yesterday. It provides that each of the high contracting parties shall communicate to the SecretaryGeneral of the League a statement in model form showing the actual total amount expended on land, sea, and air forces during the preceding financial year. It shall at the same time communicate to the Secretary-General a statement showing the amount expended during the preceding financial year on the upkeep, purchase, and manufacture of war material, as defined in the convention. Tho article concerning naval effectives was also accepted. It proposes that tables relating to naval effectives should indicate the total naval forces in the form of aggregate figures for officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. It is understood that separate particulars will be furnished in the annual statement of the number of officers and men who have completed a certain period of active service. GERMAN PROPOSAL REJECTED SUPREMACY OF VERSAILLES TREATY. GENEVA, November 27. (Received November 28, at 12.35 p.m.) When Count Bernstorff declared that Germany must have parity and security the same as tho other nations, and that the League Commission bad thus far done little for land disarmament, Lord Cecil warmly protested at such ill-founded criticism. Count Bernstorff reiterated that everything had been subordinated to naval disarmament. The commission, by 12 votes to 5, rejected the German proposal to make the convention not subservient to existing treaties, and thus virtually reaffirmed the supremacy of the” Versailles Treaty. SCHEME OUTLINED (Britiib Official Wirele«s.), RUGBY, November 27, (Received November 28. at noon.) The scheme of the Permanent Disarmament Commission at Geneva is briefly stated as follows;—The Governments shall appoint members to this permanent commission, not as their representatives, but in respect of their qualifications for the duties of following tho execution of the proposed disarmament convention: The commission would meet annually, or if a special necessity oroso, more frequently. Every year it would make at least one report, to be submitted to the League Council, and to all States which are signatories of tho convention.

In connection with tho United States clause it is pointed out that the purpose of the article was not to enable the signatoris to avoid their obligations, but to provide for exceptional circumstances, which it was hoped would never arise.