DISARMAMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 33

DISARMAMENT

GENEVA COMMITTEE’S REPORT. GENEVA, May 24. Viscount Cecil in a statement said that the preparatory disarmament conference would have been uore successful if the Soviet had been represented. The earlier Franco-British diffrences arose over the qustion of “the potentialities for war,” but he and M. Boncour had reached a frank and final agreement. He and M. Boncour were jointly submitting to the next Assembly a series of propositions settling the methods for supporting an attacked country. REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURE SUGGESTED. GENEVA, May 26. The report on disarmament, which is being drafted by a committee, was read to the full committee without discussion. It will be considered this morning. The report adopts the French proposal that the Governments are entitled to take account the degree of security existing when the conference meets and suggests that a limitation of armed forces might he effected by a reduction or limitation of expenditure on national defence. Count Bernstorff elaborated Germany’s viewpoint regarding assistance bv the League in the event of aggression, expressin- the opinion that no State should have an armed force superior in numbers to the collective forces of the nations forming the League. THE PREPARATORY CONFERENCE. GENEVA, May 27. The preparatory Disarmament Commission has closed. It is expected that a plenary session will Le opened in September. Viscount Cecil declared two positive results had been achieved—first, the proper subjects for disarmament had been specified, and, secondly, dll countries had been recommended to prepare and present a definite scheme for the reductions in war material and personnel which they will be able to make. He helievps that the conference proper cannot be held until late in 1927. GREEK GOVERNMENT’S PROMISE. GENEVA. May 28. The Greek Government, following on the Angora Assembly’s vote of £3,u00,000 for reconditioning the cruiser Cuirassey Avouz (formerly Goeben), has instructed the delegates at Geneva to promise that if the reconditioning is not accomplished, Greece will dismantle three cruisers.