Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-01
League Clasps
Continued from Page One)

in this regard.
The Russians clearly were pleased at
their reception at today's meeting.
Whatever the delegates may have
secretly thought of Moscow's far
reaching project, no word of ridicule
was uttered against it. On the con-
trary, several delegates treated the
soviet program with the utmost seri-
BUSINESS and recalled that it was really
an old story retold.
Count Won Bernstorff, head of the
German delegation, who backed the
Russian plan Of campaign, without,
however, committing himself to ac-
ceptance of complete disarmament, re-
marked that President Wilson in his
IA points had recommended the wip-
ing out of ornaments, except those
necessary to maintain order at home.
Or. Edouard Benes, Czecho- -Slovakia,
emphasized that Norway had submit
ted to the league of nations a scheme
which resembled the Russian project
in many points. Dr. BeneS added that
long league experience and study had
demonstrated that it was essential to
take under consideration the disarma-
ment problem with it's varied and COM
plex aspects - security, international
political expediency and the broad
moral and social fields.
The dramatic moment came when
M. Litvinoff, having concluded his ad-
dress, Dr. Loudon presiding, asked for
a general discussion of the Russian
plan, which included the actual con-
vocation of an international confer
ence not later than March, 1928, for
embodiment in the treaty of the
drastic soviet scheme.
Silence ensued, which became pain
full. Nobody asked to speak, and no
body. showed the slightest indication
of doing So LitVinoff and Lunachar-
ski looked at each other, Plasrly
everybody felt uncomfortable. Sever
al hundred newspapermen, who were
following the negotiations, began TO
wonder whether a breakup would come
and the Russians would leave.
Then M. Paul-Boncour, French So
cialist, saved the situation. He diplo-
inatically chided the Russians for at
tacking the league in action on dis
armament, and quietly remarked that
the Russian proposal was too simple
to be incorporated in practice.
Recalling that the league covenant
merely asked for reduction of arm
aments compitable with the needs of
national security, M Paul-Boncour ap-
pealed to NJ. Litvinoff, mot to swap
horses while crossing a stream" and
to come in frankly on the leagues
feasible efforts to achieve disarmament
by gradual stages, keeping in mind
that it was inevitably linked with the
security of nations.
"Our methods may be SLOW" he said,
'but they have been found wiser
Your project would still put the small
powers at the mercy of the great
Nations with large resources would
still impose their will on the little
nations
What has really delayed us has
been the absence of proper interna-
tional spirit, and this has resulted in
the unWillingness of the nations to
assume obligations for the mainten-
ance of peace, we sincerely welcome
you Russians here Stay with us and
help solve our problems"
And the Russians are staying on.
French spokesmen tonight emphasized
O11C VdoO 4141kJO4 O4 O11I0 4dCU W
the future of Europe, remarking that
the Russians are now part of the
machinery which is seeking to elabor-
ate, in pain and ofttimes in disap-
pointment, some system guaranteeing
peace through disarmament and Sc
curity.
The representatives of the other
delegations commented in similar
tenor. The Germans were highly
pleased that their great giant east
ern neighbor, with whom they want
to keep in relations of friendship and
cooperation, should have come to
Geneva and taken part in negotiations
which everybody realizes will be
lengthy.
WASHINGTON Nov 80 (P-Non-
membership in the league of nations,
coupled with traditional American
disinclination to mix in European po-
litical affairs, prompted the decision
of the Washington administration not
to participate in the security confer
ence now being arranged under league
auspices at Geneva.
The American attitude was explain
ed by Minister Hugh Wilson at the
special meeting today of the leagues
disarmament commission, called for
the specific purpose of preparing for
the transfer of political aspects of the
disarmament problem to the projected
security conference.
The American position, however, re-
flcted in no degree disapproval of the
security conference proposal, it is eX-
planned, since the Washington govern
ment has been consistently advocating
for many years and has been negotiat-
ing for itself arbitration and concilia-
ton pacts which it believes nave prov
ed helpful in minimizing the danger of
war.