Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
LIMITATION VOTED
AS GUIDING POLICY
FOR ARMS PARLEY
Geneva Rejects Reduction as
Basis After Brilliant
Discussions.
SOVIET AGAIN BEATEN
IN NATIONS DECISION
American Stand on Reserves Con-
tinues to Rouse European Cap
itals Pro and Con.
By tn. Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA. April 29-Limits ton sno
not reduction of armed forces existing
on land, sea and air will be the guild
ing principle of the forthcoming dis
armament conference under decisions
taken today by the preparatory COM
mission.
After a brilliant discussion, led by the
Chilean Minister. J. Vsldes-M -Mendeville
the preparatory commission rejected an
amendment by Soviet Russia TO sub
stitute the word reduction" for the
word limitation" and likewise threw
out another amendment which Maxim
Litvinoff. Soviet vice foreign commissar,
quickly introduced calling for "limita-
ton and reduction"
The Chilean delegate unequivocally
opposed the Soviet amendments. He
emphasized that the covenant of the
League of Nations subordinated reduc-
ton in armed forces to national Sc
curity and the geographical and other
special circumstances of the countries
and approved mere limitation for states
already too feebly armed.
Treaty Being Prepared.
He declared that the commission was
preparing a treaty which would be
applicable to all nations under all
contingencies. Chile and other Latin
American countries had not preferred
this system, as they favored instead
regional agreements. remarked NJ.
Valdes- -Mendeville. Nevertheless, Chile
was ready TO cooperate under the pres
ent plan.
But it must be remembered that the
Latin American states were in stu
alton differing from other world regions,
as the delegations of Brazil and Argen-
tint. already had pointed out. He
feared that If the larger Latin Ameri-
can nations failed to participate in
the future conference it would prove
a great blow, but, IL the Latin Ameri-
cans were to be induced to come their
regional needs and geographical stu
alton must be taken into account.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
delegate, dwelt on the fact that the
great naval powers have announced
their readiness to reduce the tonnage
of their navies, adding, Germany now
demands a reduction in land forces. 1t
is quite impossible for Germany to ac-
cept conference which will degenerate
into mutual protection against dis
armament"
Gibson Remark Quoted.
NJ Litvinoh then quoted the remark
on the naval question by Hugh S. Glib
son. the American representative. made
last week, that the time had come to
scrap the word limitation"
Lord Cushendun tried to clarity the
situation by recalling. as the Chilean
delegate had done. that the League
covenant calls merely for reduction
down to level compatible with secur-
ity. He emphasized that some of the
powers may already have reached that
level and that hence 1t would be better
not to change the word limitation
The British delegate explained that
Great Britain had constantly reduced
its army from its prewar strength of
August, 1914. by eliminating nine cav
airy regiments. 81 infantry battalions
and 81 artillery batteries and had re-
duced its army budget from f36, ,250, ,O01
In 1925 to f32. 1898 in 1929. There
fore, he stated. it was possible that at
the international conference Great Brit
ain may have to say it is already down
to the level required in the covenant.
The commission later approved a
Czechoslovakian proposal to exclude
from limitation those national guards
which are not under control Of the
central government
Chinese Hit Conscription.
Nationalist China painted a picture Of
50,000,000 Chinese soldiers under arms
at one time. Certain that its propose
for abolition of conscription would be
rejected. the youthful Marking govern
rnent coniured up the specter Of con.
scription applied to China.
Count Won Bernstorf1, German dele
gate. remembering Saturdays decision
TO mack no limitation of trained re-
serves, seized the opportunity to MAKE
an ironical allusion to the fact that tn;
treaties of peace abolished conscriptior
for Germany, Austria, Hungary anc
Bulgaria, but not for the victor nations
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