Evening star., 1932-06-19
BIC WORLD ISSUES RAISED
BY PROPOSALS AT GENEVA
Chamberlain Regards German Equality
end French World Force Plans as
Possible War Threats.

delegates at Locarno and was at once
rejected by me as the spokesman of the
British government. In common with
the representatives Of the other powers
I formally expressed the hope and be-
lief that the agreements reached al
Locarno would facilitate the solution
OF the political and economic problems
which confronted Europe and would ir
particular effectively hasten the dis
armament foreshadowed in Article VIII
OF the covenant, but none of us could
Tor moment contemplate the estab-
ilshment OF an equality of armed force
between our former adverSarieS anC
.TrSelves.
On this point find myself wholly
In agreement with the view expressed
by Winston Churchill in the same de-
bate. There are, as he said, very seri-
Gus political and economic dangers in
Europe at the present time and an
tagonlsmS oeep-rooted in history which
are not by any means assuaged To
place German arnaments en- an equal
lty With those of France would be, in
the present temper of mems minds, to
make possible the active RESUMPTION of
those antagonisms.
To those who advocate 1t I would say
with Mr.. Churchill. DO YOU wish for
war?" And I would repeat with hin,
tnat y! earnestly hope that no such
approximation will take place in ms
time or IN tha. Of my children
Fears Great Calamity.
"To say this" Mr.. Churchill con-
cluded, "is not in the least to imply
any want OF regard or admiration fol
the great qualities of the German peo-
pie, but I am sure that the thesis that
they should be placed in an equal mill
tary position to France is one which
II 1t ever emerged in practice, would
orlng us to within practical distance
OF almost measureless calamity"
Inc memorandum presented by M
iaroleu raises issues not less funda-
mental. 1t makes a two-fold demand
ana IN one respect, at least, it is quite
unamnlguous. France requires as q
condltlon OF any further Disarmament
nrSt, the creation of an internationa
force and, secondly Increased security
LOT peace to be provided by the as
sumption of new and more precise OBJ
legations on the part CT the signatory
powers to come to the assistance of the
innocent victim of any unprovoked ag-
gression.
The second of these conditions Is
nothing less than a demand for the re-
vlval OF the Geneva protocol of 1924
M. Paul-Boncour leaves us in no doubt
on this point. In his second article
he observed that "the Tardieu plan
narrowly examined, proves to be pre-
else adaptation to the questions of dis
armament of the principles of the Gen.
eva protocol which were outlined by
the French delegation and myself ir
!924. He goes on to observe that the
balance OF parties in the French Parlia.
ment was then very much what it i.
now and that then as now M. Herriot
was prime minister. It is not likely
therefore. as he observes, that the fal
OF M. Tardieu will change the attitude
OF France on this question.
U. S. Opposition Clear.
The result is serious. There is NJ
need to speculate what reply the United
States would make to such q reques
for binding promises Of support in fu
ture contingencies which cannot be
clearly foreseen and in quarrels II
which America may feel no concern
If the obligations contained in the exist
ing covenant of the League wert
greater than the United States was ant
is prepared to accept. it is clear that /!
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