WORLD DISARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21578, 25 February 1932, Page 9

WORLD DISARMAMENT

SUGGESTIONS BY CHINA

SUBMITTED TO THE LEAGUE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ■ GENEVA, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 8 p.m.) The Chinese delegation to the Disarmament Conference submitted to the secretariat suggestions that: — (1) National armaments shall he decided by size of territory, length of frontier, or coastline, national resources, and number of population. (b) Encouragement of a warlike spirit shall be eradicated. (e) Bombing planes, heavy artillery, aircraft carriers, submarines and battleships shall be abolished. THE SOVIET’S PROGRAMME. GENEVA, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.) The Soviet has lodged a programme of proportionate reductions in its land, naval and air forces on the lines of 1928, but slightly modified. GENERAL COMMITTEE TO MEET. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 5.5 p.m.) The General Committee of the Disarmament Conference will meet on Wednesday at Geneva under the chairmanship of Mr Arthur Henderson. The new French Prime Minister (M. Tardieu) informed the British Foreign Secretary of his intention to be present, and it is understood that Signor Grandi (Italy) and the heads of several other delegations will also attend. Sir John Simon, who, in the absence of the Prime Minister, is acting as head of the British delegation to the conference, left London this afternoon for Geneva. He will remain in Switzerland until after a special meeting on March 3 of the League Assembly, which has been called to consider the Sino-Japanese situation. It is anticipated that highly-important debates on political issues which will come before the Disarmament Conference will take place in this General Committee. AUSTRALIA’S POLICY. / i CANBERRA, February 24. (Received 24, at II p.m.) In explaining the Australian Government’s policy on disarmament, Mr J. G. Latham (Attorney-general) said: “ Our" delegation will urge the abolition of submarines, the prohibition of gas and chemical warfare, a reduction in the permissible size of ships of war, and conscription by agreement.