Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-13
armament ACCORD
IS HELD DOUBTFUL
Pessimism Prevails at &C.
neva on Eve of Opening of
Preparatory Meet.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GENEVA, April 13.-Members Of the
preparatory disarmament commission
of the League of Nations Monday will
begin work which they hope will pave
the way for a worldwide disarmament
agreement.
Nations concerned in the commits
sion's labors have built an imposing
background Of fact and rumor for the
start. Yet the atmosphere Is one of
pessimism, with a general feeling that
the convocation is months, perhaps a
year to year and half, too early
for the hoped-for results to be achieved.
In the pre-conference conversations
the topic most discussed has been what
Hugh S. Gibson. United States Ambas-
sador to Belgium and American dele
gate, will say. There Is a persistent
rumor that he brings with him def
mite suggestion from President Hoover
embodying the new administrations at
titude toward another disarmament
conference. What are regarded as quail
fed denials from Washington that he
has such message have not dissipated
the feeling he may have much to do
with the outcome Of the meeting.
Elections May Affect Attitude.
Baron Cushendun, English member
of the commission, is expected to be-
speak the views of the English Con-
servative government toward new
disarmament conference. There have
been rumors that the Baldwin govern
ment, possibly for political reasons, will
make suggestions indicating renewed
desire for such a conference. Others
have felt that with the British general
election impending May 80 the Brit
iSh delegation will be hesitant to take
q step which would commit a govern
ment of another political faith which
might be awarded power at that poll
The feeling generally is that Ambas-
sador Gibson and Baron Cushendun can
set pace which the other nations rep
resented on the commission will be glad
to follow. But the feeling also Is that
If they do bring suggestions, they will
fall short of conciliating divergent Brit
ish and American views, and that with
out some measure of conciliation an
other disarmament conference will be
futile.
The German position has been sub
mitted in a note by Count Won Bern
storff, insisting that there be some ac-
tion toward an international disarma-
ment convention, even though the Brit
iSh-American dispute remains unsettled
The German note particularly stressed
prohibition, banning oe unlimited use of
airplaneS in war, poison gas, and the
like.
Three Major Problems Offered.
Maxim Litvinoff. representing Russia,
and the only non-League of Nations
delegate other than Mr.. Gibson, is at
Geneva with an imposing encourage.
His plans are the subject of speculation.
Some feel he win reiterate the Soviet's
desire for extensive partial diSarma-
ment, broached at the session of the
preparatory commission held In March,
1926.
Three main questions present them
selves for discussion by the commission
the naval problem, regarded as the most
important; the limitation of trained re-
serves, and reduction Of stocks of war
materials.
A prominent naval expert has charac-
worse than at any tirne since the war,
because of the failure Of the tri-partite
naval conference and the failure of the
Anglo French suggestion Of limitation
of cruisers. There Is ever present the
old problem, whether reduction of naval
armaments shall be on the basis of total
tonnage or by division Of warships into
categories.
The preparatory disarmament COM
mission is a body of 26 members subject
to call Of its president, Jonkheer j..
Loudon OF the Netherlands. It's report,
basis of discussion for 1t, will be
submitted the council Of the League Of
Nations. which probably will act upon It
at its June session in Madrid.