Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29
U. S. Seen Lined Up at
Geneva With Allies Against
Their Ex-EnemieS.
AMERICAN AL0OFNESS
POLICY HELD INVOLVED
&nquisitive Senators Seek Light on
Vote Affecting Revision Cues
ton in Europe.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Is America standing together with
France, Great Britain and the little
entente on the principle of the in
volatility of the Versailles and other
peace treaties or was Ambassador Hugh
8. Gibson, head of the American dele
cation to the preparatory disarmament
conference, too inpulsive when he cast
his vote in Frances favor at Geneva?
This is question that Secretary of
State Henry L. Stimson will have to
answer soon to some inquisitive Sem
ators who do not understand why Mr..
Gibson favored the following proposal
presented at the disarmament confer
ence by Rene MaSsigli, head Of the
French delegation:
THE present convention shall not in
any way diminish the obligations of pre-
vious treaties under which certain OF
the high contracting parties agreed to
limit their military, naval and air arma-
ments and thus fixed in relation to one
another their respective rights and obi
cations in this convention.
Meaning of Resolution.
Translated into ordinary language
and deprived of the trappings of diplo-
matte verbiage, the proposal means a
nations to bind the Germans and their
former allies to the disarmament re-
strictions imposed upon them by the
treaty of Versailles, while the other ma
tions were keeping the right to bar
gain with each other over their fight
ing forces.
What some of our leading Senators
want to find out is why has the chief
of the United States delegation voted
aSotl et, he 81
concern to this country, since it has
never signed any of these peace trea-
ties. If the United States is going to
keep out of European turmoil, Mr. Glib
son could have abstained from voting,
as he had done on another occasion,
thus maintaining the American point
of view of strict neutrality in regard to
Europe's quarrels.
The French resolution, it is felt here,
was totally uncslled for and was de-
signed merely as demonstration
against Ita1y's recent political firta-
tons with Russia and Turkey. The
French and their European friends are
perfectly entitled to make any demon
stration of this sort they like, but there
is no reason why the American dele
cation should get entangled in such
acts.
Concern Felt Here.
It is feared that Mr.. Gibson's action
may be interpreted as a sign that the
United States stands now by the prin-
ciple of the inviolability Of the war
treaties, and this is likely to harm the
activities of Americas diplomats who
are trying at the present moment to
bring about a real Cancellation between
the victorious and defeated nations
This, at least, is the feeling Of num-
Der of Senator's
In official circles it is said that Mr..
Gibson had no option In voting. The
Washington and the London naval pacts
are the only substantial advances to-
ward a limitation of ornaments which
the nations of the world have made
since the end of the war. 1t Is also
felt here that had Mr.. Gibson failed
TO back the French proposal, which was
supported by Great Britain and Japan,
both naval agreements would have been
much weakened, and the entire naval
problem was liable to be reopened by
either Of the other signatories.
May Have Been ImpuIsive.
In other quarters, however, it is felt
that Mr.. Gibson may have acted some
what impulSively. 1t is true that in re-
gard to land ornaments the point OF
view of the United States is that until
q general disarmament conference is
summoned and the political conditions
of Europe are more settled France has
q perfectly good claim TO keep an ade-
quate force to defend her boundaries
against any possible aggression. The
United States would go as far as to
concede to France the right not to in
clude her trained reserves in the scheme
Of reduction of her military electives.
1t is possible that Mr.. Gibson acted
under this impression when he decided
to cast his vote, thus unfortunately Civ
ing an impression that the United States
may be gradually becoming interested in
the thorny question or pace treaties,
which she has heretofore successfully
avoided.
lCopyrisht. 1900