Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-13

by the number of units in each country;
they would be added together and the
aggregate number thus obtained for the
whole of the personnel in all the states
signing the convention would express
in comparable figures the military value
Of the personnel In the various coun-
tries.
Regulating War Material.
So much for personnel. In modern
warfare, and more particularly for the
purpose of aggression. the question of
the material at the disposal of troops
is of supreme importance Armies with
modern weapons and abundant equip
ment and material have a superiority
over opponents stronger in numbers but
with less or obsolete equipment and
material. 1t Is understood however,
that material for purposes of dis
armament includes not only the arma-
meH1t OF troops serving with the colors.
but also material in store; the material
in store gives trained reserves their
fighting strength.
1t Is the German view. as set forth
by Count BernStorff that war material
can only be effectively reduced and
limited by fixing maximum figures for
the number Of articles in the various
categories Of weapons dealt with. The
object In view would not be achieved,
he said. by laying down a maximum
figure for budgetary expenditure. 1t is
argued that in the first place it would
not be possible by such a method to
ascertain the material existing at the
time the convention became effective:
second, this method would furnish no
information as TO the nature of the
armament-a matter of great military
importance; and. last. the credits in
the budget would not. In view of the
great differences existing at different
times and different places In the pur-
chasing power Of gold and in the
original cost Of the articles. afford a
suitable basis of comparison.
Kinds Of Weapons Included.
1t is not suggested that a complete
list of all weapons, including even the
smallest, would be required: but that
the account must include all kinds of
weapons indispensable in modern war
fare.
1t is laid down that It would be es
sential to fix the number of weapons
without which aggression would be at
least matter of great difiiculty-refer-
ence being especially TO tanks, bombing
planes and long-range heavy guns. A
table for weapons similar to that out
lined for measuring personnel is sug-
gested
Because chemical substances can be
employed only along with other weap-
onS, the Germans refer not to chemical
warfare, but to the chemical weapon
They urge that while protocol already
signed prohibits the use of poison gases
the prohibition should be renewed in
the new convention. Otherwise it is
pointed out. It might happen that it
would be permissible for certain states,
signatortes of the new convention but
not signatories of the former protocol.
TO employ chemical methods. while
other states, which had ratified the pro-
tocol. would be forbidden to do so. But
it is urged further that this prohibition
should be supplemented by prohibition
to prepare for the use of chemical
warfare.
The German plan suggests the de-
STABILITY Of restricting altogether the
air weapon, most important means by
which chemical substances can be en-
ployed in war. Discussion is invited of
the desirability of forbidding absolutely
the dropping from the air Of substances
used in war and preparation for this
form of warfare. This prohibition would
apply not only to the dropping of gas
bombs, but also to the dropping of
high explosive and incendiary bombs
and to all other possible forms of chemi-
cal warfare waged from the air. 1t
would thus have the merit, say the
Germans, Of contributing toward miti-
eating the sufferings of the civilian
population in time of war.
Does Not Omit Arbitration.
The plan does not omit consideration
Of methods for settling disputes with
out recourse to war Count Bernstorff
himself did not say that the majority
of countries were prepared to accept
the creation of a supervisory organ, Gre
ated by the convention, with the right
to make inquiries on the spot and in
control Of the measures contained in
the convention. In fact, he thought
that "the linking up of limitation
which Is possible in itself-of certain
armament factors with supervision of
this kind has proved to be more of an
obstacle than help to the Preparatory
Commission in its work
The best means 10 insure supervision
OF the application of the convention Is
thought to be a stipulation that any
signatory state would have the right to
raise the question Of any infractions
before a Joint Permanent Committee,
which would endeavor to clear up the
matter and find a suitable remedy for
any real attractions. There is a sug-
gestion that the procedure might be
similar to that laid down in the minori-
ties treaties for an appeal to the Per
manent Court Of International Justice.
(Copyright. 1881. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance Inc.}
-