A NEW SCHEME

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 March 1928, Page 5

A NEW SCHEME

CONTROL OF DISARMAMENT PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION. LATEST SOVIET PLAN. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION -COPYKIGHT. GENEVA, March 24. The Soviet delegation to-day distributed a new .scheme for partial progressive disarmament, comprising reduction of land, .yea and air forces, and iprcviding for international control of disarmament. The scheme divides the countries into four groups, of which counties possessing 200, (XX) troops reduce bv half, t"he next group, with 40...00, reduce by a. third. The same system i® applied to the navies. Thus countries with 200,(XX) tonnage reduce by ha f, and those with les-. than 200,(XX) reduce by a quarter. T .e abolition within twelve months oi all military aircraft is also advocated. There is not this slightest chance of the scheme being discussed ait the presen session. It is generally felt that it had been prepared before the arrival of the delegates at Geneva in the event of the earlier proposals not being supported. BRITISH PROPOSALS. Lord Cush end an has addressed a Note to the American, Faench .and •Japanese representatives, explaining tnat when replying to M. LStvmoff on T.esaa.y ne was compelled to reter in a manner which was indefinite to the rsritis'h, readiness to reduce the size of capital ships, lie was now able to reveal the ivritish proposals. j.hese weie the reduction of battleships from 35,000 tons to under 30,000, t,.e reduction ot guns from 10 incites to t;>.s, and toe extension of the me of vessels from 20 to 20 years or there;,.r.uts, involving, the waiving or this Powers’ eights under the Washington Treat*. The reductions, if accepted, he urges, should lie ®o introduced as to enable tnetr ett't’ctivoucos before the replacements under the treaty. The proposals are u great .step towards disarmament, Ive adds, and ensure considerabe econo--1,1 Tne session of the commission ended cordially alter a day spent in discussion of the German proposals to fix a de.mite date for the disarmament conference, which were rejectedLord Cushendun, in an interview with journalists, said he had in his p. session, and could produce figures shewing the enormous expense the Soviet had incurred in furnishing China with arms, which was sufficient proof of the Soviet’s desire to provoke civil "in wording the resolution, which meant thi-e- sTre-l'vnixg oi Li'tviiiofT’s- clraxL, the commission deleted the words “Soviet draft correspond® with the ideal of mankind, but under existing conditions is incapable of execution. ’ LitvinOff was disappointed. He .reiterated that he, did not ree why the commission should decline the proposals at the first reading. “The draft ie not , acceptable, ’ de„i +he resolution, -which was eventually adopted. “The commission must pu.pue the lines already mapped out, but promises to consider the new Soviet draft next session, which will a possible, precede the next assembly of the League of Nations.’’ 'Hie chairman, in a valedictory speech, said he hoped the Soviet- would then come in a constructive, not a destructive, spirit. , T Litvinofl paid a. tribute to the League Sec‘refta;riat’s work, especially that or the disarm ament .section. vPherenpon l.ord Cushendun remarked, amidst laughter, that it was the first time they had had the pleasure of associating themselves with Litvinoff. BRITAIN’S DRAMATIC OFFER. Received 10.30 a.m. to-day. LONDON, March 25. In view of Mr. Gibson’s (U.S.A.) presence at Geneva, Lord Cnshenden s offer of naval reduction is dramatic. If an agreement- is reached on capital ships, it is reasonable to expect the cruiser discussion to- be resumed.