Evening star., 1932-10-09
LONDON PARLEY IS CRUX
OF ENTIRE ARMS ISSUE
League and Britain Mark Time, as All
Conference Arrangements
Are Deadlocked.

One excuse widely given for these
numerous hesitations and postpone
ments is that it is thought to be i'm
possible to come to terms with Ger
many until after the German elections,
November 6. Another theory is that
Germany prefers not to compromise on
the ornaments issue until it sees how
the League handles the Lytton report
on Manchuria. Still another excuse
given is that it is better to wait for the
American election, November 8, to de-
termine whether President Hoover or
Franklin D. Roosevelt is going to be the
next President of the United States.
American delegates have explained
that We are tending more and more to-
ward non-psrtisan foreign policy
uniting the Republicans and Democrats
alike on the principal foreign issues
and that. whoever wins the election, no
change is likely in the Hoover disarma-
ment policy or in the Far Eastern policy
Of Secretary Of State Henry L. Stimson
Unfortunately, most Europeans appear
persist in thinking that a change in the
administration will mean a. change in
policies.
The true reason for the delays, how
ever. seems to be the difficulties in
herent in the situations themselves. If
the Council or special assembly of
the League met today on the Man.
churian crisis. they virtually would not
know what to do Japan says the
whole question has been settled by the
Japanese recognition of Manchukuo
Nobody accepts this theory, but still
nobody as yet seems to have made up
his mind as how best to controvert it.
German Issue at Impasse.
Similarly, if Macdonald should sue
ceed today in Summoning a conference
in London on the German claims to
equal armament, it appears extremely
doubtful If speedy solution would be
possible. for the German claims involve
other serious phases of the disarma-
ment problem. They cannot be iso-
lated
The first German claim Is to equal
juridical right within the new dis
armament treaty. Here there is no
obstacle. Everybody is willing.
The second German claim is that. on
the expiration of the term Of the new
treaty. Germany shall be free to do as
it likes, without any possible attempt
to make it revert to the restrictions
under the treaty Of Versailles. Here
the French demur.
The third German claim is for i'm
provement In Germany's military sit
uation with the new treaty. 1t wants,
in particular, the right to possess
types of all the arms now forbidden
it, but allowed to others. and it wants
militia. Here the French object
strongly.
Left Wing Fears War.
1t is significant that the entire Left
Of French Premier Edouard Herriot's
ma ajority-namely. the Socialists and
the Left Wing Radicals-have served
him Immediately If he allows Germany
single tank or heavy gun. Their argu-
ment is that this would mean rearma-
ment surely instead Of disarmament and
would lead first to arms competition
and then to war.
But France in turn has claims. It is
certain that Herriot can never agree to
! the German claims unless some consid-
Grafton also is shown to the French
standpoint The first French claim Is
for strict international control Of arma-
ments under the new treaty. France Is
ready to accept such control and sees
no reason why the others should not.
The fact remains that Germany Italy.
Great Britain and the United States are
all reluctant.
The second French claim is for some
new form of mutual aid against aggres-
sion. at least among the continental
states, including Great Britain. And
finally, Great Britain and the United
States, which themselves are not yet
agreed about the naval aspect of the
Hoover disarmament plan, certainly
would make any eventual concessions to
France depend on a real reduction in
the Freich Army.
Regarded in this many-colored light.
it is seen that the proposed five-power
conference In London. if it were held
there, would by no means be a small
affair but the very crux Of the whole
disarmament program.
Copyright, 1922