The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-12-14
DISARMAMENT NOT
YET POSSIBLE IS
LEAGUE FINDING
Is Real Acid Test of Sue
cess of League of Ma
tons, Says Barnes, as
Committee Makes In
conclusive Report.

GENEVA. Dec. "a tBy the Asso-
clatcd press) Tho assembly OF the
league Of nations this afternoon went
on record as favoring the Limitation
of armaments by the powers for tho
next two years By agreement among
them. The limitations clause OF the
disarmament committees report was
adopted after It had been modified
50 MS to take the form OF recon-
mcndation.
Tho committee In It's report pointed
out that u convention for the control
of the traffic in arms and ammuni-
tion was signed by Great Britain. the
United States. France. Japan. Bel
gium. Bolivia. Cuba, China. Ecuador,
Greece and Italy at st. German.
when tho Austrian peace treaty was
| signed but that this convention had
not yet been ratified and that no
steps had been taken to mako Il ef-
fectivc. The report proposes that
the council urge the signatorics to
ratify the treaty without delay.
The convention in question prohib-
| its exports OF arms and munitions eN-
cept under special licenses for deliv-
cries to the governments themselves.
II was especially intended to prevent
the quantities of arms remaining on
| hand at the end of the war from fall
ing into the hands OF the less civilized
peoples. 1t provides for an inter-
national officer TO control the trade
| in arms The committee proposes
| that this body 90 used In a more
general way to exercise control over
the private manufacture OF arms.
THE first step In disarmament
was the Characterization OF the meas
ures proposed voiced by Hjalmar
Brantng of Sweden, the chairman OF
the committee, when he laid the re-
port before the ASSEMBLY.
In explaining the report to the
assembly Mr.. Branting and II. A. l.,
Fisher of Great Britain, said that the
committee. while unanimously and
whole heartedly in favor OF the speed
lest possible disarmament was forced
TO come to the conclusion that the
moment had not arrived when II
would be possible to accomplish IL.
There are countries with the most
powerful armament building facili'
ties outside the league" said MIR
Fisher, "and disarmament can Deglr
only when 1t Is universal
Mr.. FISHER, In discussing The rec
ommendation in the report regarding
the checking OF the growth OF arm
aments. said he had no doubt OF the
acceptance by Great Britain OF th'
proposal 20 spend no more on arm
aments for the next two years thar
she did last year.
Disarmament" said George Nicol
Barnes. of the British delegation, who
followed Mr.. Fisher, "is the real aciC
test of the success OF the league ol
nations"
Il regret" he added, that there /,
in the report no clear cut declara
tion; that there is not less quibbl'
and more pluck"
Referring to the statement in tn
report that "thc control OF the eN
portation OF arms had been hlndero'
by the absence OF necessary author
, ity to control exports Of arms from
the United States, country wher'
arms are manufactured on a larg
scale" Mr.. Barnes said that that fac
should not prevent the other govern
ments carrying out the provisions o
the st. German convention.
The report, largely filled will
academic discussion, proposed as tn
first practical measure to ask tn
powers To agree not to spend on arm
aments during the next two year
moro than they spent last year. /
also asked for continued study o
. the disarmament question by tn
military commission OF the league
and by n special temporary com
mittee.
g Leon Bourgeois Of France, said h
Y accepted the conclusions OF the re
port. with the reservations tina
France was obliged To restore he
I armaments that had been worn ou
: by the war. lie did not conside
D such action as an Increase In arm
c ament, he added.
Tho lcagIo council this mornin
4 virtually approved the plan for a
international credit organization
Q framed at the Brussels financial con
e ference The economic commissio
0 appointed by the council, after NOR
y than twenty sessions had amplifie
= the scheme into what the commissio
+. members believe Will be a workin
s organization but the fundamental
0 OF the pan remain unchanged.
Q Tho council met again this after
I noon TO ratify several remaining pro
xdsinna of tho nlnu