Evening star., 1932-04-11
OFFENSIVE ARMS
BAN URGED BY J.. S.
Gibson Asks Geneva ParIey
to Eliminate Tanks, Gas
and Mobile Cannon.
Continued From First Paee1

Continued From First Page)
Switzerland supported the American
| suggestion
Premier Tardieu of France and Count
| RudcH Nadolny of Germany gave a
rather guarded approval. but Ugo Cav
aIlero, for Italy, expressed cordial sup
port.
The statement Of French policy.
which will supplement a previous
declaration for an international police
lorce to guarantee security, is expected
to be somewhat reserved because of 1ns
failure of the Danubian Conferences
al London to reach an agreement to
/ aid the European southeastern states.
German Views Prepared.
Later the German statement will be
presented, and it likewise. will probably
DC reserved on account of the German
electlonS' factor which might intrude
lJSelf. tco as a Softening influence on
the French statement.
Undoubtedly when the delegates re-
open the debate other questions will
arise, and conflicting French and Ger
man theses will be among them
Inc French plea for security seeks to
reallze itself through the establishment
of an international police force to keen
the peace under the control of the
League of Nations
Ihe Germans and their former allies.
themselves diSarmed, ask that the World
War vlctorS reduce armaments to a
level with their own.
Enters Second Stage.
The first stage of its sessions. from
reofuary TO March l9, permitted the
conference to organize and plan its
work on the basis of the draft conven-
ton and the proposals of 81 nations.
beglnnlng now its debate on vital prin-
clples, the conference enters its second
| major stage.
strangely enough, the basis for both
french and German doctrines Is found
| IN the same paragraph-Article of the
League covenant, which is part OF the
peace treaties.
Members Of the League" this article
| prescrlbes, recognize that the main
tenance OF peace requires the reduction
| OF national armaments to the lowest
point consistent with national safety
| and the enforcement by common action
OF international obligations"
Germany draws her inspiration from
| the flrst part Of this article which
| speaks OF reduction of national arma-
ments"
France makes the latter half her
! justification, emphasizing national
| safety and common action"
Basis for Adjustment Seen.
Some observers here believe that re-
cent negotiations have disclosed a prob
| able basis for happy adjustment Of
French and German demands.
Germany might be content with A
recognition Of her legal right to equality,
and give assurances that this recogni-
ton need not lead to equality in fact.
The French hold a strong hand in
their actual military supremacy. The
| Germans have strong card in their
| superiority in civil aircraft.
A German acceptance of the French
scheme for internationalizing civil
aviation might be traded for a French
concession upon the point of legal right
| to equal armaments.
The German concessions would please
the French by eliminating the threat of
German air power, thus increasing
French security. French recognition Of
Germany's judicial right to equality of
ornaments would go far to appease
German nationalistic sentiment.