Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14
PENDING GENEVA FARLEY
FAILURE HELD CERTAIN
COnscript Armies Make Arms Limitation
Impossible, Observer
Declares.

states of the war determined to stand
by CONSUMPTION, little can be accom-
plished and the whole conference be-
comes more or less Of a farce. It is also
unmistakahle that the Anglo American
naval dispute has had a disastrous
| effect upon all disarmament discussions.
The fact that we and the British have
been unable to arrive at any limitation
agreement. that the British in recent
years have carried out a considerable
| program Of construction and that we
| are tardily setting out to overtake them
deprives both British and American
voices of much influence in Geneva and
teaches by example that we both re-
gard peace as procurable by force rather
than by pact.
Force to Procure Peace.
The British, with a general election
close at hand, have no desire to have
any serious discussion at Geneva now
/ because the attitude OF the Tory gov
eminent might easily weaken its appeal
| to the electorate. France has no de-
| sire to see any change, save as the
change gives new physical guarantees
of the maintenance of the status quo
created by the victory. Italy is far
less willing than France to consider
actual limitation of ornaments. Even
Germany, while naturally eager to en-
barrass her ancient opponents, is at the
moment concerned with getting evacua-
ton rather than with creating new
armies or arousing suspicion as to her
future purpose.
Literally there is nothing doing in
the matter of disarmament in Europe
at the present time Ever since the war
the continent has been divided between
the satisfied powers, which insist that
peace is only possible as the peace
treaties are maintained, and the dis
satisfied powers which argue that peace
will only come when these treaties have
been revised Today the satisfied powers
are armed to maintain the status quo,
the dissatisfied powers are urging dis
armament as a means of removing the
chief obstacle to revision.
It is true that there has been in
washington at least the suggestion that
when Hugh Gibson and his associates
meet the British at Geneva there may
be private conversations which could
pave the way to later meeting between
the three naval powers and an adjust
ment of claims, such as proved impos-
sible at Geneva two years ago. This is
patiently possible, but one has yet to see
any sign of yielding on either the Brit
ish or our own side. We still insist that
We shall have an equal allotment of
tonnage with the British, that the max
imum shall not be over 100000 tons, and
that we shall be permitted to use our
quota in 10,000-ton ships carrying
8-inch guns. The British demand at
least 100000 tons, a rigid limitation of
10,000-ton boats and a practical abb
sence of limit in the smaller class.
DC ole hA - ,,,l.<~
is to call the next conference. We have
tried twice. The first conference, at
Washington, resulted in the destruction
Of our prospective supremacy in battle
ships and put no limitation on British
cruisers. The second, at Geneva, ended
in practical British demand for lin
itation of the ships we could use and an
absence of limitation on their favored
class.
How About Toxic?
Now If there is to be a conference
it would appear that it Is the Brit
ish turn to propose it and to propose
some program. And this, am satisfied,
is the view of the new administration.
There is, too, pretty general idea that
any new conference should take place
in London or Toxic and not in Wash
ington. The former Washington con-
ference was disastrous for us, because
at certain moment Mr.. Hughes had
to choose between facing the political
consequences of failure and agreeing
to what was clearly bad bargain.
Probably the best solution would be
conference in Toxic.
So far, disarmament as a practical
thing amounts to no more than passing
resolutions in favor of peace at home
and embarking upon crusade to dis
arm the other fellow. Every one wants
peace, but no one trusts either the
League of Nations or the various con-
tracts like the Kellogg pact enough to
do anything practical. Praise peace
and keep your powder dry-and ade-
quate This is the present situation.
The pending Geneva affair is fore
doomed to prove the same fiasco as the
previous meetings. And following it, no
doubt, we Americans will condemn the
wicked Europeans and the Europeans
viii discover new evidence of American
imperialism and worse.
(Copyright, 1929