New-York tribune., 1920-12-15
particularly with the United States,
where the rate of exchange is so high.

GENEVA, Dec. Ii (By The Associated
Press) The first step for disarmament
of the nations must be cautious and de-
hberate, the Assembly decided, despite
sharp criticisms by George Nicoll
Barnes. the British labor leader, and
Christian I.ange, of Norway. Mr..
Barnes said there was "too much Quib-
Bile and not enough pluck III the de-
cisions TO so slowly.
The policy Of the United States on
this question was, by more or less
vcNed allusions. invoked as one reason
why general disarmament cannot be
boldly grappled with at this time. Mr..
Barnes said. H. A. L. Fisher. OF the
British de iegation, referred to nations
with powerful arms and munitions
making facilities that sill are outs de
the league" The absence from the
league of former enemy countries also
brought from Mr.. Barnes the retort:
"They now are practically disarmed
and cannot constitute a menace for
years to come
Both Positions Applauded
A curious manifestation of the ses-
sion was the general applause of the
delegates for the pleas made by Messrs.
Barnes and Langc for an immediate
minimum effort, while at the same time
accepting the conclusions of the dis
armament committee. These are,
briefly an effort 10 prevent the future
increase of armaments and propaganda
in favor of a decrease as steady
means of bringing about eventual, but
remote, general disarmament.
France and Belgium accepted the
committees conclusions upon limita
tiors of armament expenditures during
the next two years on the basis of ap-
propriations for last year. They added,
however. that they could not consider
the restoration of ar'naments destroyed
during the war as increased eXpendi-
ture, but pointed out that measures
we're being taken to reduce the period
girm, said "BoigiIm has received no
rerarations. She cannot spike her guns
while the League OF Notions still is in
the process of formatson.'
The committee in It's report pointed
out that Il convention for the control
of the traffic in arms and ammunition
was signed by Great Britain. the
United States, France, Japan. Belgium
Bolivia, Cuba, China. Ecuador. Greece
and Italy at st. Ge,main when the
Austrian peace treaty was signed, but
that this convention had not yet been
ratified and no steps had been taken to
make It effective The report pro-
poses that the Council urge the sigma
torres to ratify the treaty without de-
lay.
Puts Limit on Arms Exports
The convention in question prohibits
exports Of arms and munitions except
under special licenses for deliveries to
the governments themselves. 1t was
especially intended to prevent the
quantities of arms remainin., on hand
at the end of the war from falling into
the hands of the less civilized peoples
1t provides for an international Office
20 control the trade in arms The COM
mittee proposes that this body be used
in a more general way to exercise con-
troll over the private manufacture Of
arms.
Mr.. Fisher, in discussing the recon-
mendation in the report regarding the
checking of the growth of armaments,
said he had no doubt of the acceptance
by Great Britain of the proposal to
spend no more on armaments for the
next two years than she did last year.
Referring to the statement in the re-
port that the control of the exporta-
tion of arms had beer hindered by the
absence of necessary authority to CON
troll exports of arms from the United
States, country where arms are man
ufactured on large scale" Mr.. Barnes
said that fact should not prevent the
other governments carrying out the
provisions of the St. German conven-
tion.
"The first step in disarmament" was
the characterization of the measures
proposed' voiced by Hjalmar Branting
of Sweden, the chairman of the com
mittee, when be laid the report before
the Assembly.