DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 30 January 1933, Page 5

DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE

''NEW PROGRAMME DESIGNED BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S PLAN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 27. In order to facilitate the work of the Disarmament Conference ai> Geneva and to give a direction to the discussions now proceeding in the bureau of the conference, the British Government has drawn up a programme of work ■designed to bring order out of the confusion Which resulted from the production ol : plans by various Powers and discussions in the bureau regarding the control of disarmament.

This in no sense represents a new plan for the British proposals were pro. seated in full detail at Geneva on November 17. It has, however, been •strongly felt here that eariv. and practical decisions should be taken by the Disarmament. Conference, and with this in view a comprehensive programme of work has been prepared for examination by the bureau before the general commission completes its work next week. If it- is. found that there is general agreement among the great Powers in favour of such an action the programme invites the bureau to discuss security and disarmament simultaneously and in a. practical way with the object of framing the decisions so far as they have ultimately been approved. Such a discussion would probably reveal the general agreement on certain political aspects of the question which have been raised before the conference. Those political matters which still await a final discussion and have a vital bearing on the questions of security are in tRe forefront of the proposed programme. Tn regard to disarmament the subjects for consideration are grouped under the (headings: “effective land war material” and “air and naval forces.” The programme invites the bureau to take definite decisions with a minimum of delay in each of these fields. Special interest attaches to aerial disarmament and if the British programme of work is adopted the bureau will be instructed to constitute a conimittee of representatives of the principal air Powers to examine the possibility of entire abolition of military and naval machines- and of bombing front the air, combined with effective international control of civil aviation. As a. preliminary to the decision to be taken by the committee on air Powers the programme recommends that the bureau should at once, firstly, fix the maximum unladen weight of military and naval aircraft: secondly, decide as to the disposal of machines exceeding that limit; and thirdly, fix! the numbers of machines not exceeding the unladen weight limit which may be allowed each State. A;s to naval forces the proposed programme is consistent with the July resolution advising! the five main naval Powers to undertake conversations. The British programme of work for the Disarmament Conference has, been sub’"ittecl by the British delegate (Mr R. A. Elder.) to the United States, French. Italian. German and Japanese delegations and to Mr Arthur Henderson, the president of the conference.