Evening star., 1932-06-20
GENEVA ARMS MEET.
NEAR FINAL PHASE
Hoover and Gibson Hold Long
Transocean Telephone
Talk on Prospects.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

AS result Of yesterdays prolonged
telephone conversation between Presi-
dent Hoover and Ambassador Hugh
Gibson at Geneva, it IS believed in re-
sponsible quarters here that the dis
armament conference Is likely to enter
very shortly into its final phase.
What the prospects Of a constructive
agreement are is uncertain. The State
Department kept complete silence in
regard to the telephone conversation.
The only information available was
that the whole thing was lin the lap
of the gods" and that things were
moving.
Farley Marking Time.
The Geneva Conference had been
marking time almost ever since the be-
ginning Delegates and experts had
been losing themselves in technical de-
tails from the time when it became
obvious that no common agreement re-
garding substantial disarmament could
be reached. The British and the French
expressed during the week end the de-
sire of winding up the conference with
some minor, Insignificant agreement.
Some American delegates pointed out.
it is said, that in view of the fact that
the European powers will undoubte Ily
ask the United States to consider some
substantial reduction Of the war debts
as a counterpart of the French. Brit
ish and italian reduction or cancellation
Of the German reparations, such a So
luton of the Disarmament Conference
would be harmful to the Europeans
themselves.
On more than one occasion the Presi-
dent of the United States and the Con-
gress made 1t clear that as long as the
European nations were spending billions
on arms there could be no reduction of
their war debts.
In the light of these statements. Mac
Donald and Paul Boncour were re-
minded that the Geneva conference
must yield some positive results If ELL
rope wants to ask America to reduce
the war debts.
There are three theories prevailing at
present at Geneva for successful con-
clusion of the conference.
British Urge Holiday.
The British advocate 10 or Is year
arms holiday whereby the signatory
powers should agree not to replace their
obsolescent armamentS, especially those
weapons which Germany is prevented
by the Versailles treaty to possess The
French desire budgetary cut and the
American delegation insists on an all
round numerical cut. Furthermore,
since the naval armament question Is
one which interests us more than the
land disarmament, the delegation would
like to see France and Italy join in the
London naval treaty.
These three points of view are so far
apart that it appeared until yesterday
that no compromise was possible
At Lausanne. however Edouard Her
riot and Ramsay Macdonald realized
that Germany will not continue to pay
reparations. They are reported to be
fully aware of the fact that this item
must be stricken out of their respective
budgets while they themselves cannot
tel! their parliaments that the British
and the French war debt was cancelled.
Situation Is Unpleasant.
1t was also agreed at Lausanne that
in view OF the present electoral cam
paign in the United States, it would be
most unwise to ask the President to
make any statement or give the Slight
est hint as to what attitude he would
take should the European debtor ma
tions ask for readjustment of their
debts
Consequently, the British and the
French are in the unpleasant position
of having to agree to postpone indefi-
nitely the German reparation without a
positive counterpart from the United
States.
Since no promise can be obtained
from the United States at the present
moment. it is likely. according to we'll
informed quarters. that the British and
the French should be ready to come to
a compromise regarding disarmament,
a compromise which should give the
impression that something positive has
been achieved regarding world disarm-
ment.