NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1933. DISARMAMENT PROBLEM

Northern Advocate, 21 September 1933, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1933. DISARMAMENT PROBLEM

Registered for transmission through ' J the post as .a Newspaper.

: The eyes of the world arc. again turning towards Genova. The Disarmament Conference is to be resumed in the course of a few days, and the attitude of the various nations to the most vital question confronting civilisation is being eagerly canvassed. Earnest efforts are being made to pave the way for a successful session of the com fere nee, but it must be admitted that some, indications are not conducive to the entertaining of high hopes. Britain, in accordance with her past policy, is ex--1 erting strenuous efforts to conciliate opposing factions. The Government held an emergency meeting* of Cabinet today, which may be taken as an indication, of the urgency of the disarmament discussions. Failure of the conference to make a definite step forward would be attended by such ealambitious results that Britain is determined to leave no stone unturned in order to facilitate < a useful decision. An important conference was held in Paris this week, when representatives of Britain discussed France ’s proposal that the armaments of the nations should be subject to compulsory supervision at periods of six months. This plan, it is suggested, should be given a six years’ trial, and there is a suggestion that Britain indicated her willingness to co-operate in further disarmament if the system were faithfully observed during the trial period. There is Uo confirmation of this suggestion. On the contrary, it is stated that the heads of the army and navy are strongly _ opposed to the inspection of arsenals and dockyards; and that unless their objections are over-ruled by Cabinet the fate of the Disarmament Conference is- sealed. It is beyond question that the problem 'confronting the conference is most complicated, and that only expert steersmanship ‘ will save if from shipwreck, France has declared- that she cannot trust Germany, who, she believes, is secretly building up armaments and training men in readiness for a sudden attack upon her. She therefore refuses to reduce her army personnel or relax her armaments programme unless the Powers agree to a system under which the armamenls of the nations shall be subject to inspection once every six months. This seems to the layman to be a commonsense proposal. It is surely not too much to hope that a time will come when the word of a nation will be sufficient guarantee of promises, but, in the meantime, a system of international supervision of armaments such as has been suggested by France should inspire confidence among the Powers, It is , not to be expected that such a proposal will be readily accepted. The objection raised by the British services suggests the difficulties to be overcome. But what is the alternative? France, it is said, threatens to withdraw from the Disarmament Conference if her proposal is not agreed to, while its adoption would, mean the defection of Germany. ;

? Plainly, the need for clearing j the path is . very urgent. The United States is reported to have lbluntly asked France what she, wants. This question, which might also be addressed to Germany, ds justified. As “The I Times” said a few days ago, “Furope is distracted between the rights of France and the wrongs of Germany, Until there is greater, confidence between these two countries, and between Germany and her other bours, 1 it is quite impossible to suppose that the more heavily armed countries will get rid of their most powerful weapons. They must first feel confidence in Germany, and the Hitler regime .does* not encourage confidence.” The horizon is darkened, lint we believe that the nations will yet find a way out of the chaos into which another race in armaments would plunge the world.