NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1932. DISARMAMENT OUTLOOK

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1932, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1932. DISARMAMENT OUTLOOK

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper.

Gin- cable news today includes sonic interesting references to disarmament and the efforts which are being made tp, promote it. A striking message comes from Washington, where President Hoover took the occasion, in view of the celebration of Navy Day tomorrow, to issue a statement making known the attitude of the United States Government towards disarmament. Ho made it plain that the United Stares Government considers that reduction of land armaments is a prerequisite to further naval reductions. In the language of the cable message, he “served notice on the world” to this effect. This state■mom is interpreted as another attempt to galvanise Geneva into action, especially as he added that failure of the. negotiations would compel the United States to build her navy up to full treaty strength, which would make it equal to that of the most powerful navy in the world “I need scarcely suggest the vast expenditure which would be involved by this necessity,” said Mr Hoover, “or the blow it would deal to one of the most cherished aspirations of our people.” There is surely no need ! *or Mr. Hoover to labour this matter: its truth is unpleasantly patent. His pronouncement of the United States’ policy, however, is exactly in lino with the rcitcr .ated contention that America’s debtor:, cannot expect cancellation of those debts if the saving thus effected by the debtors is devoted to the building up of armaments. This attitude, combined with the threat to increase her navy if disarmament is not agreed to by the European nalinns, is perfectly sound. Following Mr. Hoover’s statement comes a message from Paris which sets out what are believed to be among the proposals contained in the French- disarmament plan to be submitted to the Disarmament •Tonfcrence wlmn it meets on Thursday next These proposals include the establishment of international aerial police, international control of military budgets and manufacture of arms, and the 'suppression of , pseudo-military forces. If these proposals are adopted by the Conference—which, unfortunately, is not likely to happen, the nations evidently being unprepared to go so far as France suggests —a reduction of at least 25 per cent, in the French military estimates will v csnlt. There is evidently agree ment with Germany so far as arms equality is concerned, and it is stated that equality of rights is logically related to equality of security and renunciation of in* ternal- guarantees; security must be accompanied by international Tuai’autees. This, of course, lies at root of the disarmament movement-; but the big Powers have so far “manifested a reluctance to enter nU-0 any guarantee which France has demanded for her own protection. A antce such as the latest French 1 proposal envisages, however, is a different matter.' and the Disarmament Conference may be able to make progress in a direction hitherto blocked. It is interesting, in this connection, to hear that the United States delegate to the Conference, wlm has been holding a series of Conversations with the British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. will leave London today for Genova, via Paris, where he will probably discuss disarmament with the French Prime Minister. The latest proposal by Paris will, no doubt be the basis of the discussion, especially as the plan suggests a consultative pact with the United States. -