South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-15
LEAGUE ACTS
FAVORABLY ON
DISARMAMENT
Assembly Makes Recommend
alton Favoring Limitation
of ArmamentS.
FRANCE ASKS , YEARS
Other Nations Want to Re-
store Armaments Destroyed
During War.

GENEVA. Dec. IA. - (By the
Ass'd Press) limitation of arm
aments by the powers for the next
two years by agreement among them
was acted upon favorable Tuesday
by the assembly of the League OF
Nations. The matter came up IN
the form of a report OF disarma-
ment committee. the limitations
clause in which was amended to
merely a recommendation before the
report was adopted.
With respec, 20 the limitations
clause. Leon Bourgeois made the
reservation that France was obliged
20 restore her armaments that had
been worn out by the war. The
Belgian and Spanish delegations al
the afternoon session made similar
reservations regarding the llmita-
tion OF their ornaments during the
next two years.
Against Limitations.
Notwithstanding the reservations
France, together with Brazil. Chile,
Greece, Poland, Rumania, and Uru-
quay. voted against the limitations
clause.
Hialmar Brauting, Sweden, point
ed out that the reservations did not
change the situation, since a reso-
luton on that subject was only, and
could only be, a recomm endation by
the delegates voting therefor, who
ara not understood as committing
their governments.
The important subject of an inter
national credits organization came
beore the league council which has
approved the plan of the Brussels
financial con ference.
Two proposals dealing with the
plan were adopted by the council
one relating 10 the creation Of a
committee 70 deal with credits for
raw material and unfinished pro-
ducts. and the other providing for
az international commission TO ex-
anime the securities offered
The policy of the United States on
this question, was by more or less
yelled illusions. invoked as one reas-
on why general disarmament cannot
be boldly gra opled with at this time
Mr.. Barnes said. H. A. L. Fisher
Of the British delegation, referred
10 nations with powerful arms and
munitions making facilities that still
are outside the League" che alb
scncc from the League Of former
enemy countries also was referred tC
by Fisher.
This brought from AR Barne:
the retort: They now are practic-
ally disarmed and cannot consti-
tute a menace for years 10 come"
Approve quick action.
A curious manifestation Of the
session was general applause of the
delegates for the pleas made by
Messrs Barnes and Lange for ar i'm
mediate min mum effort. while al
the same time accepting the con.
illusions OF the disarmament com
mittee. These are, briefly, an effor
10 prevent the future increase OF
ar1naments and propaganda in favor
Of a decrease as a steady means Oi
bringing about eventual. but remote
general disarmament.
France and Belgium accepted the
committees conclusions upon limi-
tatiOns for armament expenditure!
during the next two years on the
basis OF appropriations for last year
They added. however, that they
could not consider the restoration
OF armaments destroyed durins
the war as increased EXPENDITURES
but pointed out that measures were
being taken 20 reduce the period OF
military service.