The Washington times., 1929-04-24
GIVES
GIBSON PLAN
APPROVAL
BY HARRY r. FLORY

LONDON, April "a 0.N.SD.-For-
eign Secretary Sir Austen Chamber
| lain. speaking for the British govern
ment. declared in the House of Com
mons this afternoon that England
approves Americas demand for a re-
duction of navies.
This government. with the Gov
ernment of the United States desires
not merely limitation but reduction
of naval armaments." said Sir. Aus
ten. Such differences as hitherto
existed between us have not con-
cerned this great principle, nor the
relative strengths of our respective
navies. but only the determination
of categories into which ships should
be divided
The foreign secretary said he noted
with interest Hugh Gibson's new crl-
terra for the determination of war
craft categories.
The governments views upon
Americas plea for speedy naval re.
duction. as voiced at the meeting OF
the League of Nations preparatory
disarmament commission in Geneva
by Hugh Gibson, were communicated
TODAY to Lord Cushendun, chief or
the British delegation.
Lord Cushendun was given a Tree
hand and it was suggested that ne
continue informal conversations
with Mr.. Gibson for a further ex-
change of views upon the question OF
cutting down the big navles OF tine
world.
These conversations. it is expected,
may decided the next step in TINS
new campaign for sea disarmament.
May Include Japanese
The Japanese delegates at Geneva
may join the private conversations.
British government circles do not
anticipate any sudden or spectacular
DEVELOPMENT. 1t is believed the
negotiations will move slowly in
order to pave the way carefully for
any new disarmament conference
that may be summoned.
The criticism has been made that
the Coolidge naval limitation con-
ference at Geneva two years ago
broke down because insufficient
preparation had been made for it
while the leaders of the three
British political parties nave
espoused the Gibson speech as
| step forward toward naval limita-
ton. officials of the British
admiralty are not so enthusiastic.
A spokesman for the admiralty
was decidedly lukewarm toward the
American plea, but admitted that
the Gibson proposal would be care
fully examined and all Its pos
sibilities capvassed.
1t is understood some OF the
leaders of the conservative party
are anxious to have the govern
ment give official approval to the
American proposals, not alone IN
the interests of disarmament, but
for it's effect upon the British
voters. The political campaign IS
now in full swing preparatory to
the general election on May 80.
GENEVA. April "a Q.N.S).-Ger-
many's proposal that bombing by
airplanes be forbidden in future
warfare was rejected today by the
League of Nations preparatory dis
armament commission. The vote
was 23 to 5.
While the commission continues
to take up various suggestions oI
the powers, the conference is still
dominated by the speech of the
American diplomat Hugh Gibson,
calling upon the nations to cut
down their navies.
1t was reported that brand new
formula for naval reduction may be
put forward by the Japanese to
supplement the proposals already
offered by the United States.
If sea parley is arranged later
this year, it probably would include
America. England, Japan, France.
and Italy. AS those are the world
powers with the biggest navies,
there would probably be four and
possibly five sets of suggestions be-
fore tha conference, upon which 70
,,..I -. . corouoon treaty.