Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-01
American Initiative Seen in
Geneva as Shifting Fu-
ture Action to U. S.
GROUNDWORK BELIEVED
NOW BEING LAID HERE
British Envoy and Stimson Elk.
pected to Smooth Way for
Naval Conference.

81 the Associated Press.
GENEVA. May 1.-Belief was growing
here today that the future of dissrma-
1t was said American initiative. ex-
emplified in proposals on naval arma-
ment reductions and limitation of land
forces, would be emphasized as time
went on and that the United States
Capital had come to be regarded as
leader in the world disarmament move
ment.
The tendency is to consider the naval
problem as essentially that of the
United States. and Great Britain REIN
forced this view 1t was pointed out
that England and America had in MAX
ing certain land force concessions placed
themselves in position to lead in a
measure, too, in that phase of disarms-
ment in which they are not so much
interested.
The White House. the Washington
State Department and Downing Street
were all believed to be agreed that a
preliminary agreement between the
United States and Great Britain along
general lines was wise before the pre-
paratory commission on disarmament
engaged III further public naval dis
cuSSionS.
Past Failure Recalled.
The misunderstanding arising from
failure of President Coolidge's 1927
Geneva naval disarmament conference
seemed, it was said, sufficient warning
not to undertake another public con-
ference until the ground for it was
we'll laid.
Geneva guessed therefore, that Sir
ESme Howard. British Ambassador at
Washington has talked or will talk
with Col. Stimson, American Secretary
of State. and perhaps with President
Hoover directly concerning the Anglo
American naval problem
Once substantial accord has been
established between the United States
and Great Britain it was thought the
delegation here could go forward more
confidently The belief was that this
would not come before another session
of the Preparatory Commission, hardly,
probably. before Autumn at least.
Meanwhile the commission was en-
gagged in the technical problem of ar
rangement of tables for classification
of armed forces, manpower. ships,
guns, etc.
Question of Farley Date.
British quarters today denied all
knowledge of reports that the British
were opposed to naval parley before
1881. 1t was said that the whole work
could be kept within the framework of
the Preparatory Commission. which is
not called upon to deal with or discuss
the question of the second Washington
conference scheduled for 1881.
The delegations of the big naval
powers are now concentrating on the
question of the procedure 10 be adopted
when naval matters are reached on the
agends of the commission To this end
they are telegraphing their home gov
ernments for instructions and expect
to reach procedure agreement within
few days.
The question of the date for an in
ternational conference rests with the
Council of the League of Nations, but
The Preparatory Commission must de-
eide whether to have a fresh discussion
OF the naval question now or POSTPONE
if until Autumn and whether it would
be desirable to appoint naval Subcon1-
mittee to study the American proposal.
JAPAN AIDS GIBSON MOVE.