NATION’S ARMAMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 6, 5 December 1932, Page 2

NATION’S ARMAMENTS.

LIMITATION SCHEMES. AMERICAN PROPOSALS. % Received December 5, 1.55 P-™-GENEVA, Dec. 4. Mr Ramsay MacDonald and M. Herriot met at a social gathering. I olitics were not discussed, but Mr JNonnan Davis, tho American delegate, is actively pushing the American proposals, which are tantamount to the adjournment of the Disarmament Conference. Ho suggests that a statement of the principles on which accord can be reached, including abolition of chemical and bacteriological warfare, limitation of guns and tanks, and prohibition of aerial bombardment of defenceless towns, should be signed before December 15, after which it would be handed to a Provisional Convention, but the Permanent Commission would complete the work. ■ . The Easter Convention, Mr Davis suggests, would constitute the first stage of disarmament, lasting until April, 1937, and terminating with , the Washington treaty. Meanwhile the commission would endeavour to elaborate the agreement, embracing the whole field. The American proposals provide lor recognition of German equality, with restrictions. Mr Davis discussed the matter with M. Herriot, but they did not reach any agreement. M. Herriot announced that he would 1)3 returning to Paris on December 6, apparently indicating that there is small hope that tho conversations with Baron von Neurath, who is arriving tomorrow, will provide a settlement. The French indicate their preparedness to continue the discussions without Germany to enable the General Committee to examine the plans which they claim to be the first comprehensive definition of German equality.