DISARMAMENT AIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21404, 31 January 1933, Page 9

DISARMAMENT AIMS

PLAN FOR CONFERENCE

PROPOSALS BY BRITAIN BASIS FOR AGREEMENT SUGGESTED CONVENTION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Jailuary 29, 5.5 p.m.) British \Vireles3 RUGBY, Jan. 28 It is hoped that the replies of the Powers to the British proposals for the Disarmament Conference will be received in time to enable the British suggestions to be considered by the bureau of the conference next week. It is suggested that the discussion be divided into two main heads, political questions which have a bearing on security and purely disarmament questions. Political questions cover general principles and it is suggested that it should be the aim of the bureau to submit to the general committee, which meets on February 2, a convention giving effect to them. These general principles are:—

Firstly, an affirmation by the European Powers that they would in no case resort to force.

Secondly, the Continental European States should seek to work out regional security agreements. Thirdly, the application of the principle that limitations on armaments of defeated States be contained in the same disarmament convention as that which defines the limitation on the armaments of others and shall replace part five of the Treaty of Versailles, which limits Germany's arms and armed forces.

Fourthly, the convention to last for the same period and be subject to the same measure of revision to all signatories. Fifthly, the embodiment in the convention, as regards war material, of the principle of qualitative equality and the provision for the realisation of such equality, if not immediately after its entry into force, then by specified stages. Continental States should consider the reduction of their armies to a uniform short service. INTENTIONS OF JAPAN ADHERENCE TO CONFERENCE IMPORTANT PEACE POLICY TOKIO, Jan. 29 Speaking at a memorial service for officers and men killed in the Shanghai outbreak a year ago, Admiral Osumi, Minister of the Navy, made the statement that in the event of Japan being forced to withdraw from the League of I Nations by reason of hostile decisions it would, nevertheless, be necessary t.o continue to participate in the Disarmament Conference, urging there the most important Japanese proposals in the interest of the world's peace.