RUSSIA’S PROPOSALS

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

RUSSIA’S PROPOSALS

- COMPLETE GENERAL DISARM AIM ENT (Received Ist Dec., 12.40 p.ur) V GENEVA, 30th Nov. Litvinoff moved: “That, whereas the existence of armaments and their tendency to growth will inevitably end to armed conflicts, diverting workers and peasants from peaceful and productive labour and bringing in their train countless disaster; and whereas armed force is a weapon in the hands' of the Great Powers for the oppression olf small and colonial countries; and whereas complete abolition is the only real means of guaranteeing against an outbreak of war, this Commission resolves to proceed immediately with'the working out of the details of' a draft convention to, complete general disarmament, and convenes not later than March 1928 a disarmament conference to discuss and confirm the proposals. Litvinoff, after moving the resolution, presented details of the proposals. They included the dissolution of the personnel of armies, navies,•'and air forces; the destruction of ail material; the cessation of training; the abolition of service whether voluntary or conscripted,

also the release of reservists from obligations ; destruction of fortresses, naval and air bases, factories, and arsenals; prohibition of warlike allocations in national budgets; abolition of minis--; tries, departments, and staffs;’prohibition of training education, both national' and local; prohibition of warlike patents rwith a view to removing the incentive . thereto; and finally national legislation making infringements of the.foregoing- ' a grave crime. .. . - A year was allowed for the destruction of material tb> commence without'delay; and four years was allowed for general - disarmament to enable capitalist States to disband standing armies. (Received Ist Dec., 11.15 a.nr) LONDON, 30th November. In the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain, in answer to a question, said that lie had received no ,in%/.?" formation that the Soviet." delegates to Geneva intended to raise the question of the resumption of relations between Britain and Russia in view of Mr Baldwin’s recent speech. Commander Cavlyon Bellairs (C.) asked: “If the question arises, will yfiuT” seek a repudiation of the Soviet -Prime * Minister’s* declaration in the. ‘Red’''Par- Z, liament on 21st October that the work- ■ ers’ only chance was the .adoption of measures of revolution.” There was no answer.