WORLD ARMAMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20234, 19 April 1929, Page 11

WORLD ARMAMENTS.

RUSSIA'S PLAN OUTLINED.

FIFTY PER CENT. REDUCTION

Australian Press Association —United Service GENEVA, April 17.

The Preparatory Commission on .Disarmament to-day commenced a discussion of the 50 per cent, reduction in the armaments of the nations proposed by Russia. The Soviet delegate, General Longovoi, said the project aimed at a greater reduction by the big Powers, which were more capable of becoming aggressive in a military sense than the smaller' Powers whose armaments were purely defensive. The Soviet's plan would provide for the abolition of bombing aeroplanes and dirigibles, a limitation in size of the motors in aeroplanes in order that they might bo purely defensive, also a limitation of those industries which were capable of producing gas, chemicals and bacteria for use in war.

Finally the plan would provide for international control for the purpose of establishing the disarmament proposals; the complete abolition of tanks and heavy artillery, the suppression of naval air-craft-carriers and the gradual replacement of battleships by 10.000-ton vessels within 13 years; the abolition of poison gas in warfare; and tho curtailment of military Budgets.