Evening star., 1925-05-12
FEAR OF RUSSIANS
BLOW TO ARMS CUT
Polish Envoy to Geneva Par.
ley Says Nation Cannot
O. K. Agreement.
BY the Associated Press

by the Associated Press.
GENEVA, May 12.-Soviet Russia
today was made the crux of the sit
uation faced by the interna tional con-
ference for control of traffic in arms
Poland filed an amendment to the
proposed convention to the effect that
the countries bordering on Russia
would not be bound by that agree.
ment unless the Soviet government
also was bound by It,
Russia refused to attend the pres
ent conference, giving as the reason
that its purpose amounted to inter-
ference in domestic affairs.
Most of the forenoon session, how
ever, was devoted to the question of
the sale OF armament to govern
ments. Representative Theodore E..
Burton of Ohio, heading the Ameri-
can delegation. told the conference
the United States favored the utmost
publicity of statistics of arms ship
ments. He said America agreed that
some sort of document should always
be issued by the exporting country
in connection with shipments, but he
believed the name of the exporting
firm should be withheld. because this
would give information to competitors.
otatciiicht -hPpiduucu.
Mr.. Burton was applauded when he
announced that the United States was
ready to subscribe to such a conven-
ton.
Mr.. Burton said he recognized that
importing countries would be at dis
advantage under the convention, but
he expressed the opinion that infUrma-
ton from military attaches and secret
emissaries generally revealed the ex-
act situation as to armaments. He
explained that the American laws re-
quired publicity as to the output of
private arms and manufacturers and
that the production of the Government
arsenalS was negligible
The conference finally adopted the
principle that some document should
always be given setting forth the con-
sent OF the exporting government to
the sale OF the arms
On the question of who could buy
arms, Mr.. Burton agreed with others
that the shipments could be author
ICED to provinces of countries, and
even to cities, provided only that the
central government approved. Other
wise, 1t was pointed out, the arms
might be used against the government
in a revolutionary outbreak, embar-
RAISING the exporting countries.
See Security Involved.
The Polish amendment as to Russia
was preceded by the declaration that
traffic in arms could not be considered
apart from the whole problem of dis
armament and security.
The Polish delegate said the league
covenant provided that the geograph-
ical situation and circumstances of
each country must be taken into ac-
count, and the signers of the conven.
ton must not be placed in a condition
of inferiority as compared with their
neighbors.
The amendment provides that the
convention shall not apply to coun-
tries having a common frontier with
producing countries nor parties TO the
agreement until the latter shall have
had adhered to the convention.
In supporting the amendment Gen.
Sosnowski of Poland said the confer
ence could not hope to impose the
same obligation on Russia's neighbors
as on others.
The discussion showed that fear
exists regarding Russian armament,
particularly on the part of Poland and
Rumania, who doubt the wisdom of
publishing the details of their own
importation of arms. The Rumanian n
delegate said Rumania was living
under constant frontier provoca-
tions.'
British Carry Point.
Supported by the United States,
Canada and enough other countries to
get a majority, Great Britain yester-
day succeeded in carrying through
her proposal to have warships and
airplanes excluded from the control
which it was hoped to establish over
the traffic in armaments. This exclu-
sion from control applies to sub
| marines, airships, seaplanes and other
war vessels.
The decision was reached by the
military, naval and air committee Of
the International Conference on the
Trade in Arms and Munitions, but
since every state Is represented in this
committee, there seems to be little
chance that reservations will be taken
in the full session of the conference.
The majority for the British pro-
posal was close, and 1t got smaller and
smaller as the president worked down
| through the list until a deadlock was
| reached. When 1t came to a vote on
| armored trains three votes were
taken and each time they resulted In
tie. The committee finally decided,
as an exception, to retain tanks as
armament, the sale of which should
| be subjected to supervision and pub.
| licity.
Newly voiced arguments of the ad-
vocates of passage of the British
amendment were that warships traffic
cannot be hidden from the public eve,
| and that it is not necessary to include
them in the system of license and con-
| troll.
AS for airplanes designed for war,
the argument was that it was practi.
cally impossible to differentiate war
! from commercial planes, and that,
| therefore, their inclusion in the suDer-
vised list Of war implements would be
| unreasonable.
T.. s. ACTION EXPLAINED.