The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-11
GIBSON TELLS
DELEGATES OF
U. S. ATTITUDE
No Desire 10 Subordinate
Success of Mission to
Three.power Parley
ASK FULL AGREEMENT
If That Is Impossible, Then
u. S. Wants Limited Agree
ment as Starter

Geneva. April 11.-{F-With the
preliminary disarmament meeting
here in danger Of collapse because
Of a conflict over the method OF
limiting navics, Hugh Gibson inter
vened in the debate today for the
purpose Of removing any impression
that the United States, in protosing
a thrce-power conference, souGhes1 /;
prejudice the general disarm9ueht
con ference.
His statement was made after NJ.
marked that the three. power confer
ence had hovercd over the prepara-
tory commission since the beginning
of its sessions and had disagreed
with a declaration by Lord Cecil Of
Great Britain to the effect that the
commission should avoid doing any
thing to prejudice the thrce-powcr
meeting.
Hopes for General Agreement
Mr.. Gibson said President Coolidge
had made it clear that the United
States wanted, if possible. to reach
q general agreement; failing this,
she wanted to attain a limited agree
mcnt with the hope that this would
lead the way to a general accord.
While the American delegation
was authorized to negotiate . spe-
cial naval accord. MIR. Gibson cm.
phasized that the main object Of
the United States was to contribute
to the success of the commission
which is preparing for q general dis
armament conference and that there
was no desire to subordinate the
success Of the mission to the three
power parley.
Mr.. Gibson declared that the total
tonnage system established at the
Washington conference was the best
and fairest method. The United
States would examine the French
proposal on its merits, but II 1t
was found unacceptable it would not
be because Of any bearing on the
three power conference.
The French proposal, which would
provide for limitation by cateRorics
Of warships instead Of by total ton
mage. was flatly rejected BY the
spokcsmen for Great Britain and
italy but was approved by the Ar
gcntine and Chilean delegations.
ENGLAND Is UNABLE TO
ACCEPT FRENCH PROPOSALS
Geneva. April l1.@R1-Great
Britain. through viscount Cecil, an
nounccd at the opening Of the dis
armament parley today that it was
unable to accept the French proposals
regarding limitation Of naval arma-
mentS.
Lord Cecil said Great Britain re-
garded the Washington naval confer
cnce as q great success and that it
would be undesirable to impcril its
extension ut the forthcoming three
power parleys in Geneva. which he
referred to as the Coolidge confer
once. The future of the latter con-
ference must not be prejudieS1 by
anything done by the present pre-
liminary disarmament commission,
he said. s
Il am not a prophet" the British
spokesman said, "but / hope the
Coolidge conference will result not
only in limitation but also in the re-
duction of naval strength. l also
hope the results will have a favor
able effect on the general disa rma-
ment conference
Destruction Of Armament
Lord Cecil said the Washington
treaty had resulted in tho demolition
Of 2i British warships. II Japanese
and 30 Americana total Of 6s. With
LOuu0Sc VI lpoOl sVVVs
"This is a veritable destruction Of
armaments." he said. President
Coolidge in his congressional mess
age had emphasized that the sigma
tories had faithfully fulfilled the
conditions Of the Washington treaty.
He had also pointed out that It Was
q great success, greatly tightening
the burden Of the taxpayers in the
countries affected, and stopping the
danger Of a naval armament race.
Signor de Marinis announced that
Italy, like Great Britain, was unable
to accept the French proposal. He
opposed it. not as Lord Cecil did, be-
cause it would disclose too little con-
cerning naval programs, but because
il would disclose too much.
n. Paul Boncour declared that the
French project embodied the last
concession to be made by France.
If she went further, it would mean
further restriction Of liberty con-
cerning naval construction, which
had already been reduced BY the
Washington treaty, he said.