The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-31
FRANCE GOES
TO her LIMIT
IN ARMS PLAN
New Security Proposal Is
Regarded -UItimatum to
World.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP S1MMS
scripps-Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3l-Pre-
mier Herriot's new security and dis
armament plan is regarded here as
an ultimatum, in effect-aimed first
at Germany, second at the United
States and third at Europe in gen.
eral.
France is believed to have gone
her limit in laying down what she
is disposed to do in the way Of con-
cessions.
Unless the other powers, there
fore, particularly Germany, are pre-
pared to accept the Herriot con-
ception at least as basis for the
blending Of their own proposals in
to an acceptable composite world
disarmament plan, there will be no
disarmament.
France will consider she has re-
gained free hand, so far as her
national defense is concerned, and
any blame for wrecking the world
arms parley, if it is wrecked, will
not belong properly to her.
Where Does u. S. Stand?
There is a wide difference sof
opinion here over the part France
expects TO play.
In administration circles it is said
President Herbert Hoover and State
Secretary Henry l.. Stimson al
READY have interpreted the Kellogg
pact in a way fully satisfactory to
France, and that assurances have
been given that the United States
would not be asked to sign any
consultative or other clauses to i'm
plement the pact.
Elsewhere, different view is
taken.
If France is satisfied with the
Hoover-Stimson Interpretation, it is
said, other nations, including Great
Britain, are not likely to be.
There is reported a widespread
desire to have the United States
pledge itself, formally and in adj
vance, at least to consult with the
other nations when war threatens.
Futher, It's expected America will
be asked formally to forgot its
technical rights as a neutral to
trade with or otherwise aid an ag-
gressor.
America Only Morally Bound
Secretary Stimson recently inter-
preted the Kellogg pact as placing
upon the United States and other
signatory powers the obligation to
do precisely these things.
In any future war, he stated, one
nation or the other becomes an out
law. Thus, he says, I'VE no longer
draw a ring around them and treat
them with the punctilios Of the
duelist's code. Instead we denounce
them as law-breakers."
Up to the present, however, the
United States is bound only morally
so to act.
Legally 1t could trade with, lend
money, or sell arms to a violator of
the pact. Foreign powers would
remedy this by having the American
government ratify the Hoover Slim
son Interpretation.
To Germany and the rest of Eu-
rope, France proposes the abolition
of professional armies, adoption of
the conscript system; creation of
an international arms supervisory
body; establishment of an interna-
tional police force, and the tight
ening up of the league covenant,
Locarno treaties and other regional
understandings of similar import.
Olive Branch to Germany
While the complete text of the
Herriot plan will not be made pub
lie until later in the week, when the
preparatory arms commission meets
at Geneva, it is interpreted here as
holding out an olive branch to Ger
many. Prospects, therefore, are re-
garded as brighter than for some
time.
If Germany is given equal status
with the rest of Europe in the mat
ter of conscripts, as indicated, it
should go long way toward meet
ing Germany's price for continuing
as participant in the arms con-
ference.