DISARMAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 1 December 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

PREPARATORY CONFERENCE DELEGATES FROM TWENTY-SIX COUNTRIES RUSSIANS’ PRESENCE ADDS T® INTEREST (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & ' N.Z. Cable Association) GENEVA, 30th November.. Delegations from twenty-six countries have arrived for the Preparatory Disarmament Conference opening to-day. Interest naturally is increased by the presenco of Soviet delegates, as well as a representative of the United States, though, as anticipated, the American Government flatly declines to appoint a delegate'to the Security Commission in pursuance of the policy of refusal to enter European commitments. Litvinoff (Russia) is unlikely to dominate the proceedings to the extent suggested by preliminary publicity. EWecasts of his speech have been so plentiful as to suggest a. fear that it may not after all be delivered. There are more unlikelv happenings than the restriction of’tlie" meeting to its proper agenda, which will be the constitution of a security Commission.

• DESIRE FOR PEACE (Received Ist December, 11.35 a.m.) ' Geneva, 30th Nov. There was not the usual free and easy atmosphere in the Secretariat, from which the public were excluded, while journalists were only admitted on the production of a special card with a photograph. Dozens of gendarmes and detectives mustered on the portico where the Soviet delegates, heavily muffled m furs, were the last lo arrive, ten minutes after the appointed hour. There was no demonstration. Little time was wasted oh formalities. Jonkeer Loudon devoted more words to regretting the absence of Viscount Cecil and M. De Brouckere than to a welcome to the Russians, into whose hands Count Bernstorff instantly played, saying that he had been wrongly suspected of desiring to move the second reading of the Disarmament Convention; but a more important thing was first to give the delegates-an opportunity, of explaining their Government’s viewpoints.^ This Litvinoff amply did, in excellent English, winning his wife’s nods of approval. Beginning with,the stereotyped formula “'Militarism is the child of capitalism”, lie went on to declare that the whole post-war history was a record of increased armaments. None of the League’s solemn promises had been fulfilled and the imminence of war was making itself felt everywhere. If the discussions remained in the old channels they would inevitably lead to further increases within the legalised limits. The Soviet genuinely desired to contribute to the peace and disarmament of Europe in which the people, enfeebled by the Great War, were struggling against new imperialist wars. There was no suggestion of security when Russia was first invited, and its discussion would now embarrass her. It would be better to discuss disarmament first and security ■ Litvinoff said the Soviet was ready with a scheme of general disarmament spread over four years, plus intensive peace propaganda. All the Commission s work hitherto was decorative. The League had been fruitlessly wrestling for seven years with limitation of war budgets. Litvinoff then read the Soviets proposals'. ~ , In view of the oft published statements that Russia in recent years has been specialising in chemical warfare, special notice was attracted by Litvinoff’s declaration: “We fully endorse the prohibition of chemical warfare. The only secure means of ensuring its suppression is placing the power m capitalist countries in the hands erf the workers, who would see that such preparations were not made. He continued that money saved from war budgets could quickly, he devoted to productive and cultural ends. Litvinoff thereafter submitted a Soviet motion. . . Resuming the discussion in the alternpon M. Boncour emphasised that the Soviet meant to scrap old progress and begin new methods. “If we sank every ship and sent home every soldier, men. would still remain sailors and soldiers. He said it meant leaving small nations at the mercy of big nations, unless international ‘force * was created to resist attacks. The League had decided that security must precede disarmament, so it must continue on those lines. If the Soviet delegates were sincere they would follow others to find the best way out of the entanglement. There was only qne way out of the forest when lost, namely, always to go in one direction. _ Before adjourning the Commission postponed till the spring session the discussion of the Soviet’s proposals, Litvinoff assenting. ? „

COMMENTS ON SPEECH,

“This is the millenium.” “Too big a menu for lunch.” “Quite Utopian. “So simple, it is a wonder it was not proposed before.” These were a few cd the lobby lunchtime comments after Litvinoff had expounded to. the Preparatory Disarmament Commission the Soviets sweeping disarmament proposals.