Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-27
L. STAND UPHELD
ON ARMY RESERVES
DESPITE OBJECTION
Geneva ParIey Rules Favor
ably on Proposal After Ger
many RapS 1t.
SOVIET ALSO OPPOSED
AMERICAN VIEWPOINT
Hope for Final Agreement on Dis
armament Increased by
Gibson's Stand.
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GENEVA, April 27.-Despite strong
German and Russian objection, limita-
ton on trained army reserves was ruled
out of the draft treaty of the prepara-
tory disarmament commission today.
The action was in line with the an
nouncement of Ambassador Hugh s.
Gibson, American representative, made
at yesterdays session that the United
States, in the interests of making prog
ress toward disarmament, would not
insist upon trained reserves figuring III
the treaty, although it still believed
that they should.
After clear evidence that a majority
of the countries at the conference ia
vored taking no action on reserves.
President Loudon this afternoon ruled
that no limitation of them could be in
visaged in the treaty.
Soviet in Opposition.
Maxim Litvinoff, Soviet delegate, de-
manded a vote, but President Loudon
refused this, as the question involved a
principle He said that M. Litvinof
would have a chance to vote when the
text of the draft treaty takes written
form.
1t became certain that the conscrip-
ton countries, like France, Italy and
Japan, would win their point that
trained reserves should not be included
when Lord Cushendun, delegate OF
DyfAofx1 IfeoI0cad that Britain
like the United States, in the interest
of making progress toward diSarma-
ment would not insist upon the reserves
being in the treaty.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
delegate, maintained that reserves
formed a decisive factor in war and
should be limited, even intimating that
a disarmament draft treaty which did
not take into account trained reserves
as army electives would be unaccep-
table to Germany.
Others Backed Germany.
Soviet Russia, the Netherlands and
Sweden supported the German View
point.
Gen. Isiang Tso-Ping. the Chinese
delegate, then made q plea Tor anop-
ton of his amendment for the abolition
of conscription because It engendered
the warlike spirit Without taking q
decision the conference adjourned to
Monday morning.
League of Nations circles saw in the
new American concession Increased
hope for an international disarmament
agreement.
The concession was the second an
nounced by the American spokesman
since the beginning of the conference
on the preparatory commission on dis
armament. The first dealt with navies
and proposed drastic reductions in all
classes of war craft.
Little Effect on u. S.
The second concession was not one
to have perceptible effect on American
armaments, but seemed designed par
ticularly TO indicate willingness OF the
United States to get together with
France and Italy on grounds acceptable
TO them. Both of those countries nave
contended that their conScript classes,
mustered out but held in reserve, should
not be considered in any agreement for
limitation Of armies.
Ambassador GibSon'S announcement
was taken here as indicating American
wishes to secure a disarmament agree
meut even at some sacrifices.
Lord Cushendun then took the moor
and announced that Great Britain hac
decided to take the same attitude as the
United States on trained reserves anc
agreed to have them omitted from
limitation in any treaty which might
be evolved. He said he believed lkf
Ambassador Gibson that they should bt
included, but if he insisted on his views
it might wreck the draft treaty.