Evening star., 1932-04-22

Praise is given to the purpose Of Am
bassador Hugh 8. Gibson in proposing
world action against offensive weapons
including tanks, gases and mobile guns
Of the larger types. Practical dificul-
ties are seen, however, especially in
Frances demand for security through
international agreements against ag-
gressive nations. The contention of
Premier Tardieu, who is seen to have
opposition in France itself that Often
sive weapons are essential to adequate
defense is recognized as having some
merit.
The French view is not to be de-
spised.'' in the opinion of the Roches-
ter Times Union, with the thought that
1T may even be more far-seeing and
more truly international than any
other" The Times Union feels that
Frances idea, an armed international
authority. "is hardly practicable at the
present time" and raises the question
whether it is to be made an excuse
for doing nothing at all" That paper
continues: The major countries repre-
sented in the conference have all rail-
lied to the American thesis. Sir John
Simon Endorsed 1t for Great Britain
Signor Grandi indorsed 1t for Italy.
The leader of the German delegation
indorSed it for Germany. II the French
maintain an obstinate resistance, they
are likely to find themselves isolated
Nor is this all The French Socialist
party. under the leadership of Leon
Blum. has announced its wholehearted
support Of the Gibson proposal. The
Radicals, under Herriot, are not likely
to be opposed. 1t is very doubtful
whether NJ. Tardieu has the public
opinion of his own country behind him
in the stand he has taken. 1t is at least
permissible to hope that the way has
been opened to genuine progress at
Geneva
The San Antonio Express recognizes
that Tardieu "adhereS to the familiar
French position that national security
can be guaranteed best through agree
mentS providing for common interna-
tional action against an aggressive
power" and that the premier lis
troubled by both an election and inter
carno security compacts, the Express
voices the adverse opinion on Frances
attitude: France is not yet convinced
that those agreements and its alliances
with Belgium CzechoSlovakia, Jugo-
slavia. Rumania and Poland, as well as
membership in the League, give 1t ade-
nuate security against attack. The
Tardieu government has placed the
army. the navy and the air force under
a ministry Of national defense. not only
to eliminate duplicated outlay and et-
fort, but also to assure the closest prac-
ticable cooperation among the several
arms Its reluctance to abolish tanks
and heavy mobile artillery is ditlcult to
Eranaa has hAHn invaded
four times since 1913, and the weapons
TO which it desires to cling are more
suitable for attack than for defense
THE French are realistS," according
to the Long Beach sun. and they have
A powerful and none too friendly neigh
bor." The Sun is convinced that they
will never melt down their cannon, turn
their bayonets into pruning hooks and
ioin in the chorus, All is we'll just be-
cause war has been outlawed." The
Charleston w. Va Daily Mail asks:
why stop at the abolition OF these
only? Why not scrap the air
plane, the dirigible and the sub
marine? Is the airplane real
necessity" That paper offers the
comment: so long as there are air.
nIanes there is the possibility of bomb
ing cities from the air. setting fire to
them with incendiary bombs and ruth
IS slaughter OF women and children.
This prospect certainly does not add one
whit to the feeling Of security of the
public As for the submarine, by its
very nature it Is more or less OF a sneak
ing assassin, striking in the dark and
sinking without trace. II can be made
a holy terror in It's use. Even In peace
times, It is frequently dropping to the
bottom Of the seas and subtectins IL