LEAGUE COUNCIL’S SESSION CONCLUDES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20105, 26 March 1928, Page 7

LEAGUE COUNCIL’S SESSION CONCLUDES

SOVIET’S SWEEPING PROPOSALS FOR DISARMAMENT SHELVED

M. LITVINOFF PRESENTS NEW SCHEME FOR REDUCTION OF ARMED FORCES

The League Council’s session at Geneva has ended, Rus tia’s proposed convention for the total abolition of arms being shelved. M. Litvinoff, however, has circulated new proposals, which will not be considered until the next meeting.

In the course of Saturday’s debate Lord Ctishendun disclosed that desipte Russia’s talk of peace and goodwill, he had figures proving that the Soviet had gone to enormous expense to send arms and ammunition to C hina. Britain’s suggestions for a naval holiday, by lengthening the life of ships and reducing their size and gunpower have also been made known.

THE FINAL SITTING NEW SOVIET PROPOSALS. DIVISION OF NATIONS INTO GROUPS. Received March 25, 5.30 p.m. (A.P.A.-Sun) GENEVA, Hai\h 24. The Soviet delegation has distributed a new scheme for partial and progressive disarmament, comprising a reduction of land, sea and air forces, also international control of disarmament. The scheme divides countries into four groups, in one of which ountries possessing 200,000 troops, will reduce these by half. The next group, those with 40,000, will reduce by a third, and the same system is applied to navies.

Thus countries with 200,000,000 tons will reduce by half, and those with less than 200,000,00 tons will reduce by a quarterThe scheme also advocates the abolition, within twelve months, of all military aircraft. There is not the slightest chance of the scheme being discussed during the present session- It is generally felt that it had been prepared before the delegates’ arrival at Geneva, for use in the event of the earlier proposals not being supported..

The Disarmament Commission’s sittings ended cordially after a day spent in discussion of the German proposal to fix a definite date for the Disarmament Conference, which was rejected, and the wording of the resolution shelving M. Litvinoff’s draft convention.

The Commission deleted the words "The Soviet draft corresponds with the ideal of mankind, but under the existing conditions is incapable of execution.”

M. Litvinoff was disappointed md reiterated that he did not see why the Commission should decline the first reading.

The resolution was eventually adopted. It declared: “The draft is not acceptable. The Commission must pursue the lines already mapped out, but promises to consider the new Soviet draft next session, which, if possible, will precede the next Assembly.” The chairman, in a valedictory speech, said he hoped the Soviet would thou come in a constructive and not destructive spirit. M. Litvinoff paid a tribute to the League Secretariat’s work, especially the disarmament section, Lord Cushendun remarking that it was the first time they had had pleasure in associating themselves with M. Litvinoff.

RUSSIA’S INSINCERITY

The sally was greeted with laughterlately impossible for the Commission to consider any new project at the present session and proceedings eventually became so confused that delegates welcomed the proposal to adjourn until today. Impracticable Proposals. At yesterday’s discussions Tcwfik Rashdi Bey alon rallied to M. Litvinoff’s aid and demanded that the Disarmament Com.nission consider the Soviet’s plan with a view to finding the best moans of approaching the desired ideal. M. Gibson said that as the result

of sounding delegates he was of opinion that sufficient agreement had not been reached to justify beginning the second, reading of the report. It was bettor to leave the convening to the President’s discretion, perhaps in July or August. The Russians persisted that the debate had not proved that the Soviet proposals were - impractical, but the chairman, M. Loudon, tabled a motion that while they harmonised with mankind’s ideals they were incapable of being executed ; -i the existing world conditions.

Count Bcrnstorff revealed the new new German viewpoint that her disarmament was contrary to the League Covenant and had not left her sufficient forces to discharge her obligation thereto.

NAVAL ARMAMENTS BRITAIN’S PROPOSALS. SMALLER SHIPS AND SMALLER GUNS. Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) GENEVA, March 24. Lord Cushcndun has addressed a Note to the American, French and Japanese representatives at the Disarmament Commission, explaining that when replying to M. Litvinoff on March 20 he was compelled to refer indefinitely to the British readiness to reduce the size of capital ships, and says ho is now able to reveal the British proposals. They were: Firstly, the reduction of battleships from 35,000 tons to under 30,000 tons; secondly, the reduction of the size of guns from 16 inchers to 13.5 inchers; and thirdly, extending the life of ships from 20 years to 26 years or thereabouts, these proposals involving the waiving of the Powers’ rights under the Washington Treaty. He urges that the reductions, if they are accepted, should bo introduced to enable them to become effective before the replacement ships under the Treaty, and adds that the proposals are a great step towards disarmament and would ensure considerable economics.

ARMS FOR CHINA. DESIRE TO FOSTER CIVIL WAR. Received March 25, 6 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) GENEVA, March 24. Lord Cushcndun, in ap interview with journalists, said he had in his possession, and could produce figures showing the enormous expense the Soviet had incurred in furnishing China with arms, which are sufficient proof of the Soviet’s desire to provoke civil war.