Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-24
comprehensive scheme that Congress
may put in operation.
international Arms Commerce
(Wa shington POST

washington PosO
The action of the United States
Government in declining to be party
to any international convention pro-
hibiting the trade in arms and NUM-
tons is in every way logical one.
At first sight the argument that war
would become impossible if there
were no arms and munitions, seems
very plausible, and many well-mean-
ing people think that the prohibition
of the trade in arms and munitions
would have the effect of bringing
about an era of peace.
A little consideration, however,
leads to quite a different conclusion.
Ii is clear that if a nation, plentifully
supplied with arms and munitions.
should have a dispute with some
smaller nation, which was notorious
ly short of munitions and possessed
no means of manufacturing them, the
chances of a peaceful settlement
would be diminished. not increased.
by such a state of affairs. AS long as
human nature is what it is, the temp
tation to the stronger state to exploit
its superiority in ornaments would
probably prove irresistible. AS a re-
suit, the unjust oppression of weaker
states would be rendered possible.
and practically encouraged. by any
arbitrary regulation of the commerce
in arms.
More progress might be achieved if
the manufacture and sale of arms
and munitions was taken out of the
hands of private firms and made en-
tirely a government monopoly. But
oh &c CT in, tho n
of it's weakest link, such an interna-
tional agreement. to be efficient,
would have to be universal. The abb
stention of single nation would open
the door wide to unlimited gun-run-
ming and munition smuggling.
International conventions already
exist which provide against supplying
certain savage tribes and peoples
with arms and munitions. but it is
notorious that the only result of such
agreements has been to increase the
profits of the illicit trade in arms.
The United States has today before it
the object lesson of liquor smuggling.
If an army OF prohibition officers,
with credits running into the millions
and backed by an immense volume of
public opinion, can not suppress the
SOlllld Ddllu u duS "bdl
chance would there be for the sup
preston of the trade in arms and
munitions, with the whole world for a
! field of operations?
The specific objections of the Unit
ed States to the convention drawn up
by the league of nations are these:
That the convention provides, not for
general limitation of ornaments, but
for system of control, which would
not prevent the signatory powers
from filling their own requirements
or furnishing arms to each other;
that the United States will not agree
to prevent shipment of arms to states
no adhering to the convention merely
because they have not adhered to it;
that the convention would require
legislation to make it effective. es-
pecially as to the imposition of penal
ties upon private arms manufactur-
ers, and that the United States is not
in favor of such legislation; and An
ally, that the convention is so inter-
twined with the league of nations as
to make it impossible for the United
States to ratify it.
These are good and valid objec-
tons, which will be approved by the
matter, as we'll as an idealistic effort
to find a method to promote peace.
The Geneva convention does not
bring all the nations into accord for
the limitation of armament. 1t is
characteristic piece of duplicity, quite
worthy of it's source. 1t pretends that
it will promote peace, but it leaves
the door open for every power to
make and sell arms, except to nations
not adhering to the treaty. Thus it
actually authorizes and encourages
the manufacture and sale of war
gear, instead of making any limita-
tons.
The administration has faithfully
reflected American opinion when it
advises the league of nations that
there is no possibility of obtaining
legislation here penalizing manufac-
turers of small arms for violation of
the convention. When all the nations.
except a few, are in pact to manu-
facture and sell arms among them
selves. it would be foolish for the
United States to put up barrier
against the trade in small arms.
The last objection stated by the
United States, viz. that the conven
ton is intertwined with the league of
nations, is sufficient to condemn the
treaty in the eyes of Americans who
have gone beneath the surface and
discovered how the league of nations
is manipulated by certain foreign
powers. The United States does not
propose to be tricked by the powers
that are operating through the league
OF nations. Whenever those powers
come out into the open. with a genu-
inc proposal to limit the manufacture
OF armament by all nations, they will
find the United States waiting to sign
the agreement with them.