Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-14
Proposes Countries Name
Own Members to Office for
Handling Data.
BETTER SERVICE is SEEN
If BODY is INDEPENDENT
Americas Interest in Panama
Canal Due Up as Cargo Examina.
ton Is Discussed.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
GENEVA, May 1.-THE America n
delegation to the League of Nations
International Conference for the Con-
troll of Traffic in Arms and Munitions
today officially filed an amendment to
divorce the arms convention from the
League of Nations.
The presentation of the American
amendment. although expected in
many quarters, caused something of
a sensation.
The convention which it is pro
posed to amend provides that a cen
trail international office shall be es.
tablished by the council of the League
of Nations for the collection and pub
location of documents of all kinds re-
lating to traffic in arms.
Omits Mention of League.
The amendment offered by Re pre-.
sentative Theodore E. Burton, head
of the American delegation, provides
for a central Office, but omits the
specification that it be appointed by
the leagues council.
1t differs also from the conference
convention by saying that a certain
number of states, to be determined
later shall nominate representatives
to the central Office and these repre-
sentatives shall determine it's organ
iZation and functions including the
method of electing their successors.
The Burton amendment will be dis
cussed later
The American proposal requires
quarterly, instead of annual, publica-
ton of statistics regarding manufac-
ture of arms, and requires reports on
certain classification of arms upon
which reports are not required under
the convention unless it Is proved
they are intended for export.
The Burton amendment also elm
mated the convention requirement for
publicity regarding arms contracts
antedating the ratification of the con-
vention.
Recalls Opium Farley.
The American amendment today re.
calls the situation during the recent
Geneva conference for the interna.
tional control of traffic in opium.
when efforts were made to meet Amer
lean objections to the connection OF
the league with the conference.
1t was then proposed to have a
central opium board appointed by the
states represented on the leagues
council, plus the United States and
Germany. however, II was later de-
cided that the board should be ap-
pointed by the council of the League
of Nations with the understanding
that the United States and Germany
should be invited 20 participate in
making the appointments.
Panama Canal Issue Seen.
Americas interest in tie Panama
Canal is expected to figure impor-
family today in discussion before the
conference as to whether there should
be international control of arms in
shipment.
Such examination during shipment
is authorized in the proposed conven.
ton, and although the American
delegates did not express an opinion
today, they are understood to oppose
any extensive right Of search involving
continuous examinations of cargoes.
The British delegates submitted an
amendment mainly intended to give
Great Britain the right to examine all
ships suspected Of carrying arms des-
tined to her colonies, and authorizing
penalties for illegal shipments.
The japanese delegation vigorously
combatted this proposal as a serious
impeachment to free navigation and
liberty of transit.
Turkey proposed a new clause,
whereunder the powers would agree
not to hinder or delay the movement
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column ~