Evening star., 1926-05-23
Proposal Is 0utgrowth of
Japanese Request for Three
Power Conference.
LATTER CAUSED ALARM
IN BRITISH OFFICIALDO
French Propose Definite League
Move Toward Mutual Assist
ance in War Time.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, May 22.--The idea of
having a separate naval conference.
results Of which enter into force only
when suitable agreements have been
made as to reductions In land arma.
ments. has been informally broached
at Geneva. The suggestion presum-
ably Is the outcome of the japanese
proposal for q three-cornered naval
disarmament conference by the United
States, Great Britain and Japan.
This Toxic suggestion apparently
caused surprise. II not CONSERVATION.
in British circles because of the diff
ficulty the British say they would find
in making reductions in small craft
like submarines without simultaneous
reductions by France and Italy.
The British are described here as
wishing to keep the navy in the
Mediterranean equal to the combined
strength OF France and Italy. since
Great Britain Is forced to maintain
the safety of the sea route to India
against any possible naval combina-
ton Of European powers.
Matsuda Meets Gibson.
NJ. Matsuda, representing Japan.
had an informal discussion today
with Hugh S. Gibson. the American
minister in Geneva. on the three
power conference suggestion.
Now that there is partial security
through the league covenant and the
Locarno accords, make 1t real and ef.
fective and help on disarmament by
arranging Immediately for the swift
operation Of mutual assistance in
war time-such Is Frances latest con-
tribution to the disarmament studies.
announced at Geneva today.
Frances initiative in presenting
this proposal, through NJ. Paul-Bon-
cour, to the drafting committee of the
preparatory disarmament commits.
sion Is deemed of vast importance to
the success Of the limitation of land
armaments in Europe, because many
European nations have insisted that
they will disarm only in proportion
to the security actually achieved.
Calling attention to the fact that
the recent reco-Bulgar conflict was
quickly settled largely because the
parties ceased hostilities at the re-.
quest Of the League Of Nations Coun.
Gil, NJ. Paul-Boncour recommended
that the leagu study the advisability
to impose an armistice Immediately
conflict breaks out. He also urged
that the council be authorized to ex-
ercise this power without the neces.
sity of a unanimous vote.
Unanimity Held Vital.
Unanimity, France held. should Oh
tain in deciding upon a fragrant ag-
hrlf 70 hn
existing custom, the burden of unan-
unity should rest upon the shoulders
of a nation that pretended aggression
did not exist.
This is regarded in league circles
as Frances answer to the provisions
Of the recent Russo.German treaty
that Germany, as a member of the
League of Nations council. will re.
main neutral in any coalition move
ment against Russia: in plain words,
the French explanation Is taken as
meaning that if Russia. for example,
should commit a fragrant aggression
against another nation. Germany, or
any other member of the council,
would be obliged to secure a unani-
nous vote, not to prove that Russia
was guilty. but to prove that she was
not guilty.
M. Paul-Boncour further asked that
permanent organizations be created
by the league to function immediate
ly. to determine the causes Of con-
f1icts when they break out. and to
agree upon what economic and f1nan-
cial help should be given a state at
tacked-help which is obligatory
under. the covenant. The French
spokesman held that permanent com.
missions should determine in ad-
vance the needs of all countries in
raw materials, foodstuffs, munitions.
transports and credits, and that when
was broke out the council should de-
eide which nations should come for
ward with the necessary aid.
Gibson Leaves Hall.
Mr.. Gibson left the conference hall
when the French project came up for
discussion, though some other men,
bers Of the American delegation re-
nJained. Apparently quick to see
that the Boncour document could not
be discussed by the Americans, be-
cause the United States Is not a mem
ber Of the league, Viscount Cecil, the
British delegate. objected that the
project could not be debated by the
preparatory disarmament commission,
but only by purely league organisms
He called attention that three coun-
tries represented on the commission
the United States. Argentina and Ger
many-are not members Of the league
and might be embarrassed by discus
sion of matters which concerned the
league only.
A lively debate ensued, with M. Peul.
Boncour insisting the wanted to get
the French views before the commits
sion, as he believed they would help
toward attainment of a reduction in