Evening star., 1927-11-30
A Grand Gesture.


The regime that has succeeded to the
old czarist government in Muscovy
has apparently an infinite capacity
for sensation. 1t goes on from eN
treme to extreme in a series Of ex-
traordinary performances, consistent
with the fundamentals Of the hypothe-
sis of national administration upon
which 1t Is founded.
The latest move in the Soviet pro-
gram is made at Geneva, at the ses-
sion of the preparatory disarmament
commission, to which Moscow sent
delegation, after much backing and
filling. Today NJ. Litvinoff, head of
the delegation, proposes an absolute
disarmament for all nations. the dis
bandnnent of all armies, the scrapping
of all navies, the dismantling Of all
Notifications, within a period of four
years. To this end he suggests the
holding Of a world disarmament con.
ference to be held in the Spring of
1928.
The first reaction to this proposal
is that of skepticism as to the good
faith of the plan. Russia has not yet
cleared itself of suspicion in the minds
of the other nations of the world.
Recollection of subversive movements,
aimed against the established order in
all other lands, conducted under the
auspices. if not specifically by the
government at Moscow, is too fresh
to permit confidence. The echoes Of
the Chinese turmoil, induced by Rus.
sian influence and under direct Rus
sian guidance, are still reverberating.
Disclaimers of official responsibility
have not absolved Moscow from the
blame for such disturbances.
Moreover, it is known that upon the
army in Russia the Soviet govern.
ment relies not merely for propaganda
but for the maintenance of the estab-
lished order in Russia. 1t must, Of
course, be conceded that Litvinoff and
his colleagues at Moscow are fully
into consideration in proposing the
disbandment Of armed forces in all
countries. Is it to be concluded that
they are confident that Soviet Russia
can now stand unsupported by its
"red'' army?
Taking into consideration all factors
the first impression to be gained from
this announcement today from Geneva
will be that Russia is making grand
gesture, with no expectation Of effec-
tiveness. Suspicion is already voiced
that the move is made with the pur-
pose Of effecting a bloc at Geneva,
with Russia and Germany as the
nucleus of a combination of powers
to oppose those Of Western Europe.
There are certain ties between those
two Eastern European governments.
There are certain elements of hostil-
ity between them and the other CONT.
mental powers.
No likelihood of an absolute and
complete disarmament such as Rus
sia now proposes is to be considered
as possible, even granting perfect sim
cerity. In view of the dissent OF
Great Britain to the naval limitation
plans of the United States few
months ago, due to that powers claim
of imperative need Of commerce.pro-
tecting sea force, it is plain that at
least one of the major factors In
European affairs will not consider so
sweeping a project. France is not at
all likely to concede the possibil-
ity of a 100 per cent disarmament.
Italy, with as yet underlined but
we'll recognized projects of expansion,
is In no mood to enter a conference
which would be bound by the agenda
to consider seriously a program OF abb
solute surrender of all means Of mill.
fancy.
The dream of all advocates Of world
peace may be visioned by this pro.
posal. But even they will be checked
in their enthusiasm by the recollec-
ton of the age.old warning: Beware
- <~sf fkert