MILITARY EFFECTIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 11

MILITARY EFFECTIVES.

DISCUSSION AT GENEVA.

TRAINED RESERVES ISSUE.

AMERICA'S NEW CONCESSION.

[ Australian Press Association—United Service (Received April 28, 5.45 p.m.) GENEVA. April 27. Mr. Hugh Gibson, American delegate to the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament, made nn important statement at yesterday's sitting, on the limitation of military effectives. He pointed out that the United States always had maintained that trained reserves should bo included in peace time armaments. Mr. Gibson urged the delegates to make all possiblo concessions and freely to place their cards on the table. lie asked tlicrn not to adopt a spirit of bargaining which would lead to months of negotiations.

M. Massioli (France) approved Mr. Gibsou's view. He said France was ready to complv by placing her cards on tho table.

Mr. N. Sato (Japan) said that country was ready lo make all possible concessions.

Tho Commission agreed with the proposal of Lilvinoff (Russia) that preparations should not bo mado in peace time to convert aeroplanes into war machines. The Commission adopted a French amendment elaborating the original convention and enabling the signatories to indicate separately tho number of aero? planes, dirigibles and aircraft-carriers at home or overseas, also the number of aeroplanes organised at military bases at home or abroad.

New Conflict ol Opinion. To-day the Commission faced a new conflict of opinion. Count Bernstorff (Germany) yesterday liad asked leave to consider overnight Mr. Gibson's new concession of not insisting on the inclusion cf trained reserves in peace effectives. Ho insisted to-day that trained reservists were of primary interest to Germany. Count Bernstortf said lie was sure a method could be discovered whereby they could be taken into account if everybody made a concession. Otherwise important elements which could be employed in war time would be ignored. Germany could not maintain reservists under the conditions imposed on her. She was willing to abandon her insistence on the abolition of conscription, but must insist that reservists should be estimated, not * numerically, but on the basis of their value.

Mr. Gibson, in deference to the wishes of the majority of the Continental Powers, announced that he would not insist on the United States' reservation favouring the inclusion of trained reserves in the figures of peace time effectives. A Dutch delegate said he regretted this. If that inclusion eventually were impossible the Dutch delegation would have to ask leave to withdraw. Therefore, he was glad the Commission's decision was not final. No Conscription in Britain. Litvinoff also expressed regret; He said his Government would accept any agreement for a reduction of all categories of armaments, active or reserve, conditionally upon the same reduction being applicable in a similar degree to other countries.

By openly admitting the exclusion of trained reserves the conference would not be able to solve the disarmament problem. Lord Cushendun (Britain) expressed the opinion that the Commission should include trained reserves, but he was prepared in the interests of the success of its work, to agree to the views of the majority. Any other course would be fatal. Count Bernstorff's suggestion would be impracticable. There was no conscription in Britain. A Chinese delegate delivered a long address urging expedition. He said no real'disarmament was possible under conscription. He urged its suppression. , • The Commission is not expected to accept this. The proceedings have been adjourned.