Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
G|BSON'S RESERVES
STAND |SATTACKED
Played Into Hands of British
and French Diplomacy,
Britten Charges.

Ambassador Hugh Gibson is charged
by Chairman Britten of the House
naval affairs committee with playing
into the hands of British and French
diplomacy for the second time within 10
days in suggesting to the League of
Nations disarmament preparatory COM
mission that trained army reserves be
not included in computing the military
strength of a nation.
Chairman Britten says this statement
is equivalent to agreeing that battle
ships, cruisers and submarines in re-
serve, but ready to fight, should not be
included in establishing the naval
strength of nation.
The first step of Ambassador Gibson,
censured by Mr. Britten, was the pro-
posal to accept the British category
theory for measuring the naval strength
of the five leading powers. instead OF
by global tonnage as was the case In
the Washington conference.
Scouts Chance Of Acceptance.
Both of Gibson's proposals should
be very effective in the coming Brit
ish elections. although neither has the
slightest chance of acceptance by the
League commission for many years to
come. if at all" said Mr.. Britten today.
ut must not be forgotten that the
secret Anglo French treaty of 1928.
which created a storm of disapproval
throughout America and England be-
cause it was inimical to the best IN
terests of the United States, contained
the very clause now being sponsored by
the American Ambassador.
Two years ago the War Department
strongly and effectively objected to the
proposal to exclude trained Army re-
serves from military calculations be-
cause it made farce of an otherwise
serious subject.
II have been unable to learn that the
complete surrender Of American prm-
ciples of the past, now advanced by
Ambassador Gibson, have been ap--
proved by either the Navy general
board or the general staff Of the Army
1T will be interesting to learn by
what authority Gibson is proposing 70
negotiate European treaties.
American world position must not
be used to deceive the weaker nations
into accepting a make-believe disarm-
ament agreement which will never oe
ratified by the United States.
Usual Fiasco" Predicted.
The present meeting in Geneva is
! the sixth session of the disarmament
/ preparatory commission extending over
( a period years. Nothing has come oil
/ the past meetings and the present one
will end in the usual fiasco. AS an eX-
! haust chamber for the smaller natlons
! il has been great success.
! "As a justification for the mainte-
nance by England and France OF large
| military and naval establishments 1t Is
| a bowling success.
"It is quite evident that our repre-
| sentative is playing with those in power
! in Europe, but the less We have to DC
with diplomatic log-rolling and secret
! agreements over there the better. We
/ are too credulous and too young at this
game of deception and intrigue.
England desires no naval limitations
and France insists upon being the pre-
ponderant military power. Any proposal
| to the contrary. will always be gra-
ciously received but politely evaded
When the balance of the world OBJ
iects or seeks equality limitations, they
are cordially invited into the exhaust
chamber at Geneva and there the mat
ter may repose indefinitely"