Evening star., 1927-09-25
ARMS SLASH PLEA
MADE IN ASSEMBLY
BY STRESEMANN
German Declares Military
Power viii Not Form Basis
of National Security.
BROUCKERE DECLARES
ROAD TO PEACE is LONG
Every Nation Votes to Outlaw
Wars of Aggression and Settle
Conflicts Peaceably.


GENEVA, September 24.-Germany
once regarded as the greatest mill
tary power in the worlds now dis
armed and calmly waits for her neigh
nors 10 do likewise. DIR. Gustav Strese-
mann, the German foreign secretary.
declared tonight in a plea from the
rostrum at the Assembly of the League
of Nations for the speeding up of prep
arations for an international confer
ence for reduction of armaments.
Hitting at former enemies in the
Great War. he continued by citing an
incident of a citizen who app Jred
among u peaceful crowd in the ancient
Roman forum. armed to the teeth.
end who, when justifying his arms on
the ground that he feared he might
he attacked, was asked, who gave
you leave to be afraid?'
I'VE in Germany" quietly remarked
the Reich leader. ARE often tempted
10 say that to our neighbors."
Holds Nations Must Disarm.
DR. Stresemann insisted that arma-
ments could not and should not form
the basis of security, arguing that
their inevitable effect was a threat to
other nations. Imploring the delegates
OF more than so nations not to shake
the faith of mankind that better fu-
ture will follow the dark days of the
war, he asserted that the League of
Nations could not endure unless the
duty of general disarmament was dis
charged.
DIR. Stresemann, NJ Paul-Boncour
Of France, DR.. Loudon of Holland and
Senator De Brouckere, Socialist par
Humanitarian of Belgium. all spoke
when the disarmament plans were
submitted to the Assembly.
1t was the powerful address of Sen
ator De Brouckere. who acted as re-
porter for the disarmament committee.
which challenged the most attention.
With wears of eRperience in the
Leagues disarmament efforts, he sol
emnly warned his hearers that the
rcad to success would be long and per-
-iious; yet he eloquently painted a pic
ture of fervent faith that the goal will
finally be reached.
Il do not say that peace now is as
eured," he exclaimed. II do not say
that the wolves of war have ceased
bowling in the forests. But l do say
that under the auspices of the League
forces are being organized which will
clear the forests of these wolves: that
NE have realized some part of our
hopes and that the number of men of
good will in all countries is steadily
Increasing"
SIowness Causes Murmurs.
He emphasized, however. that the
S'owness of disarmament was caus-
ing the murmurs of the people to
grow louder and louder. and declared
,tnat multitudes are determined to
know the exact nature of the
obstacles impeding peace. and de-
1ermined also to prove that a man
is not a primitive brute destined for
ever to slay his fellows.
An impressive feature of today's
session, which was adjourned until
Monday morning for resumption of
the disarmament discussion, was a
solemn roll call on the question of
acceptance of the Polish project for
outlawing wars of aggression and
The settlement of conflicts of what
ever nature by pacific means. Every
nation voted YES"
The general tenor Of today's
speeches was that if the system of
security pacts like those of Locarno
can he extended. every country will
he ready to accept lower standards
of armaments when the disarmament
conference is held.
Regional Pacts Urged.
Pedro Tniguez, former minister of
Justice of Chile, advocated regional
as we'll as general security agree
ments and emphasized that the inter-
dependence of the interests of all
h1ations, which are primarily economic,
is daily pushing the world toward the
necessity of stabilizing peace.
DR.. Loudon, who is president of
the Leagues preparatory commission,
ON which the United States is repre-
kented. said that America s idea of
the outlawry of war deserved earnest
consideration.
II. Paul-Boncour warned that the
work of peace, like that of war, was
hard and long. and demanded patience
and pertinacity. If the League of
Nations was una BILE TO give the people
that sense of security without which
nations could not disarm. public
opinion would call the League a
fa lure.