The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-08
]. 5. INVESTIGATING PROGRESS OF WORLD DISARMAMENT IDEA
League of Nations Has Already Begun Organization of Ma chlnery for Solving of
 the Problem
By Associated Press


 Washington, September 7.-Informa
 investigation has been started by the
 United States government of the pro- gress being made by the nations of the
 world in the movement for universal disarmament
 lnasmuch as control of armaments was made one of the objects of the League of Nations, the inquiry into the move ment for universal disarmament has de- yeloped, officials said today, into an in- vestigation of the present status of the armament control clauses of the League of Nations covenant
 Without having taken up the main problem of a radical and general dis armament of nations, the Lea que of Ma, tions, according to reports received here today in official circles. has begun the organization of machinery for solving the problem. Preliminary investigations and studies of the league have com menced and some subdiary phases of the main problem such as the control to the manufacturer of munitions and of the use of gas in warfare already have been discussed. with a view to reaching uni versal agreement Organization of thf advisory committee on military maya and air. questions provided in the league covenant for advising the councj
  ment control clauses of the covenant was made by the league council. accordina lto official advces in Rome, May r. At that time, the question of disarmamen' in it's broadest phase was not considered and it was understood 1t could not De considered by the league immediately Some of the smaller nations of the league pressed very anxiously, but vainly, al that time. according to the advices, for to ioat of control clauses
 In August the advisory committee on military, naval and air committees met with the council at San Sebastian, Spain, where it's first agenda was, according to the official advices,1 as follows: Elaboration of the regulations of the league as to the military, naval and aerial forces and armaments of states request ing admission to the league: control of the traffic in armament and munitions: use of poison gas in warfare. and duties of the committee as the eventual exer- else of the rights of the League of Ma tions to make investigation at any time in Germany under the treaty of Yer sailes."
 As result of the necessity of seeking cooperation whether within the league or without, in any effectual programme for the limitation of armaments. the of- l ficial advices reported that early action on any scheme for universal disarmament was not to be expected. At the same time the chasing of the nationalistic in- 1 terests of many nations also was recog- nized as temporarily obstructipg the i plans fer the immediate reduction of arm aments.
 Advices from Japan have indicated strong opposition existed there agains' any limitation of armaments, as 1t IS | claimed that Japan, on account of her pc 1 cuifar position, is entitled to exceptlo0 1 by other nations from any programme ] for disarmament. Inquiries from other sources have indicated an unwillingness 1 on the part of other nations to consent tc l reduce in any way their armaments short of the most universal cooperation Of all other governments.