Evening star., 1928-04-01
DISCUSS
D|SARM|NG PLANS
Negotiations Expected Be-
tween U. S., Britain, France,
Italy, Germany and Japan.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

News. CopyriSht, lh"S,
PARIS, March 3l.--1ntenational dis
armament negotiations have entered q
new phase. The League of Nations ais
armament commission in adlournlnS
for six months has referred the prob
lem back TO the governments chicny
concerned. The scene no longer Is
Geneva for the moment, but the capi-
tails OF the great powers
One set of discussions has oeen pc
gun between France and Great brltalh,
another between Great Britain ana
the United States, and slu announcer;
an oulcrowth of the American propoSal
Of multilateral pact outlawing war,
sneminsly is about to open among the
limited states, Great Britain, France,
Germany and Japan.
THE issues are complex and somewhat
confused, but by no means hopeleSsIy.
Adoption of a multilateral pact seems
almost certain. A Franco British agree
ment regarding the question OF trained
reserves is said to be imminent and may
be concluded soon after the forthcom-
tnS French and German elections.
Proposals TO Be Renewed.
Germany intends to insist on dis
armament and CZechoslovakia on re-
cionsl security pacts at the League
assembly in September. Russia promises
IN renew its proposals at the Octooer
meeting of the disarmament comnlis-
sior, AS for naval affairs. there Will De
a uew conference under the WaSnlng-
ton treaty in 1891, even II none Is heio
sooner. ,s
All the League members are oouno
hv the covenant TO reduce arnlanents to
a minimum compatible with natiohal
security. Moreover. the VersailleS treaty
declares that German disarmament
shall be considered merely a preiuoe
to general disarmament.
Years of careful study and deoate
have evolved the now generally accept,
ed theory that arbitration. security ana
disarmament are inseparable. Aroitra-
tion means an agreement to settle dis
putes by peaceful means. Security
means that a state which Is the VlcIim
of aggression will be assured in advance
Of help against an aggressor. DlSarma-
rnent means first sterilization ana tnen
gradual reduction of armaments IN pro-
portion to the security which is consio-
cred assured.
Much Already Accomplished.
Under all these heads much already
tration and conciliation treaties are De-
ing made right and left. Not re"
of the smaller countries have sifS cd the
obligatory arbitration clause OF the
Hague Court statutes. France Is ready
TO sign and there is much propaganda
in England to persuade the British gov
eminent TO sign In the United states
there is again the question OF our JONI
ing the Hague Court.
Iocaroo is a model security treaty ana
m also is the four-power Paciflc treaty
and even the multiiateral outlawry
treaty. for both OF these last imply
moral obligation Of all the signatories
70 combine against a pact breaker.
Important naval reductions were
effected at Washington and others are
probable within a sew years. AS 10,
the great continental armies. they all
have been considerably reduced IN ef-
fectives. But Just as naval reductions
xeern to have conceded with changes IN
ideas of naval strategy and fresh en-
phssis on unlimited craft like suoma-
rineS. cruisers and sea planes, so the
army reductions are coinciding wltn
new ideas of military strategy. De-
creases In the actual numbers OF men
are being compensated by increased
Ynechanizatiof Of the land forces.
Technicians. mechanics and machines
are being substituted for mere NUMBERS.
Armies Being Mechanfzed.
Germany, France, Great Britain and
the United States all now are rapidly
rnechan!zing their armies What with
tanks. sirplancs. armored cars, mechan-
.zed artillery and motorized infantry,
the actual fighting strength OF all these
countries. except possibly Germany, Is
probably greater now than before the
World War. although the electives are
much fewer IN number.
The League plan Of disarmament In
wolves first q draft convention by the
disarmament commission and then
general conference TO I'LL In the actual
figures. The only section OF the con-
vention get fully agreed upon concerns
aviation. The big controversy regarding
navses Is whether they shall be meas
ured by units in classes or by giobal
tonnage Great Britain favors the for
ner and the United States and France
the latter
The big controversy regarding armies
is whether trained reserves shall be
counted. France says no and Great
Britain says yes Questions as 70 how 10
measure such things as security. relative
strength and needs and proportional re-
6uciions all remain 70 be settled.
Underlying these technical difficulties
are political difficulties, cks~e among
which are the International suspicious
kept sliTe b. the restless disoontent IN
certain countries and fhe consequent
nervo0sness Of their neignbors. PTacti-
cally all states want 10 reduce arma-
rnents but each wants TO reduce IN ways
favorable 70 Itself.
Modern systems Of armament obvious.
IL favor highly organized industrial
countries as against mere inchoate size
and numbers and also tend 10 protect
ez3Sting regimes against revolutionary
other. nseehanization of arr1amepts viii
probably continue even after reductions
have been agreed upon Internationally
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