The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. ARMAMENT REDUCTION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 20 May 1926, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. ARMAMENT REDUCTION.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock iu Hawera. Stanaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, El t ham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mofeoia, Wbakamara, Ohangai, Mere, mere. Fraser Road and Ararata.

The opening session of the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament, now sitting at Geneva, was marked by a display of seriousness and sincerity which promises well for the success of the League’s movement to,wards the further limitation of martial and naval preparations. For, although “disarmament” is the term used to describe tlie aim of the commission, all that the most fervent pacifist can hope for in the present generation is limitation of armaments—drastic limitation perhaps, -but not- complete disarmament. That is a goal 1 to be won in the future. It must not be imagined, either, that the present meeting is a 'conference with full power to commit its members. Tlio president lias emphasised that point. Its purpose is to try to find a basis on which a full conference can be convened; so that actual discussion of the problems for decision would be out of order in the present gathering. The agenda fori the commission has been drawn up in the form of a series of questions, to which answers are sought. Once in possession of these answers, the council of the League "will be able to proceed- to the summoning of a real conference with power to make decisions and conclude treaties, subject always to subsequent confirmation by the Governments or Parliaments of the Powers concerned. With the exception of Russia, all the States invited' to participate in the deliberations of the Preparatory Commission have responded, and delegates are present at Geneva from the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Brazil, Czeeho-Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, the Argentine, China, Germany, Poland and Switzerland. These statesmen have been asked to find answers for this list of questions: (1) What is to be understood by the expression “armaments”? (a) Definition of the- various factors—military, economic, geographical, etc. —upon -which the power of a country in war depends, (b) Definition and special characteristics of the various factors which constitute the armaments of a. country in time of peace; the different categories of armaments —military, naval' and air —the methods of recruiting, training, organisations capable of immediate military -employment, etc. (2) (a) Is it practicable to limit the ultimate war strength of a country, or must any measures of disarmament be -confined to the peace strength? (b) What i's to be understood by the expression “reduction and limitation of ■ armaments”?

(3) By wliat standards •is it sibie to measure the armaments 1 of one country against the armaments of another, e.g., numbers, period of service, equipment, expenditure, etc.? (4) Can there be said to be “offensive’ 7 and “defensive” armaments? (5) (a) On what- principle will it be possible to draw up a scale of armaments permissible to the various countries? (b) Can the reduction of armament be promoted by examining possible means for ensuring that the mutual assistance, economic and military, contemplated in Article 1G of the Covenant, shall be brought quickly into operation as soon as an act of aggression has been committed? (6) (a). Is there any device by which civil and military aircraft can bcdistinguished. for purposes of disarmament? (b) Is it possible or desirable to apply the conclusions arrived at in (a) above to .parts of aircraft and aircraft engines? (c) Is it possible to attac-h military value to commercial fleets iu estimating the naval armaments of a country? (7) Admitting that disarmament depends on security, to what extent is regional disarmament possible in return for regional security? Or is an\ scheme of disarmament impi'acticable unless it is general? If regional disarmament is practicable, would it promote or. lead up to’ general disarmament?

With the discussion permeated by the goodwill for which Viscount Cecil pleaded in his opening, and the general view that of the German delegation—that, armaments always lead to Year —there, is every prospect' of a basis being determined 'which will enable the League to take the. next step towards securing for the world a guarantee of continued and prosperous peace.