LITVINOFF'S TOTAL DISARMAMENT PACT AGAIN SUBMITTED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6539, 22 February 1928, Page 7

LITVINOFF'S TOTAL DISARMAMENT PACT AGAIN SUBMITTED

Security Committee In Session at Geneva BRITAIN STICKS FAST TO COVENANT (Received Tuesday 6.5 p.m.) <A.F.A. and “Sun.”) ' GENEVA Feb. 20. rweuty-two States attended the opening of the Committee on Arbitration and security. xne Soviet was represented by its observer. Dr. Bencs (Czecho-Slovakia) presiding, declared that it was abundantly apparent that security was not realisable by any single uniform project, but rather by a series of political and juridical measures meeting tho divergent situations- of the various countries.

Lord Cushcndun emphasised Britain’s view that the League Covenant had given a measure of security. The Committee should stress this fundamental principle. Britain favoured the Finnish proposal to assist victims of aggression. He recalled that Britain has had a century’s experience in arbitration, notably Anglo-American. Britain would freely support treaties of arbitration and conciliation for which Locarno was the best model, although modification might be necessary in special cases. The Committee should realise that unless tho session achieved a practical measure giving nations a greater sense of security, there was little hope of doing anything useful. Unless the League Covenant afforded such security against a recurrence of war, failure must be admitted. He was not prepared to make suck an admission. Tho Covenant did not preclude supplementary security measures. Ho was convinced the best measures would be security pacts- between States in the same geogiaphical areas such as the Locarno Pact. The British Government felt most stronalv that tho Locarno agreements did represent the best model. Lord Cushendun tlion made a novel proposal that tho Committee endeavour during tho present session to draw up a Locarno Treaty for application in some region of the world. The German delegate. Herr von Simson, in a half hour’s speech, said that it would be dangerous to create an impression that there was at present no security. But a mere prohibition of wars of aggression was -not sufficient. It would be necessary to establish a procedure for the pacific settlement of every form of dispute, including political, and conciliation seemed a suitable method though he was still convinced disarmament was the best means of ensuring security. ■ He added that the League Council should have means to enforce an obligatory armistice in the event of hostilities actually breaking out. The Japanese delegate, Viscount Sato, announced that his Government was at present engaged in a revision of tho reservations, but generally attacked arbitration treaties. The Polish delegate,.M., Sokol, like other speakers, emphasised the connection between security and disarmament. When the Committee adjourned there was a general opinion that the British viewpoint will probably be accepted. The Soviet submitted to the League a draft convention on general disarmament based on tho proposals of M. Litvinoff submitted on November 30 last. The draft will be considered at the coming meetings of the Disarmament Preparatory Commission.