Evening star., 1932-02-02
go NATIONS ATTEND
|. ARMS CONF FERENCE
Opening Of ParIey Delayed
an Hour While League De-
bates Chinese Crisis.
BY the Associated Press.


GENEVA, February 2-The world
Disarmament Conference, attended by
the statesmen of three score nations.
opened this evening after having been
delayed for an hour While the League
of Nations Council met to consider the
problem in the Far East.
Arthur Henderson, former British
cabinet minister, who is acting as chair
man, began the session with an out
line of its problems.
II refuse TO contemplate even the
possibility of failure" he said, for il
we fail, no one can foretell the evil
consequences that might ensue."
The enfeebled chairman, who has
been in poor health for several weeks
spoke for more than an hour.
Refers to Far East.
He called upon the delegates to seize
this opportunity-Whil it is still OURS
to lead the peoples Of the world one
more step toward the high table land Of
peace and cooperation
At the outset he referred to the ON
inous thunderings from the Far East
I feel bound to refer to the tragic
fact that at the moment when this con-
ference begins its work we are con-
fronted with a situation of such extreme
gravity as that which now exists in the
Far East" he said.
1T is imperative that all the sigma
tories of the League of Nations covenant
and of other international treaties
should make it their business to insure
the strict observance of those great
safeguards against acts of violence and
war"
The conference opened in a more
encouraging atmosphere than had been
expected because of the united stand
of the great powers in protesting con-
tinuance of the hostilities in China, as
outlined at the extraordinary meeting
Of the League Council Just before the
Disarmament Conference began.
Objectives Outlined.
Mr. Henderson said this conference
had three important objectives.
/. To reach a collective agreement on
practical program for substantial re-
duction and limitation of armamentS.
2. To determine that no armamentS
may be maintained outside the scope
of that argument.
3. To plan for similar conferences in
the future at reasonably short intervals
of time.
1T is difficult to conceive of a sharp
el spur 10 lear anu SuSplC4OLl IIldI4 IAlC
maintenance and growth of colossal
armaments," said Henderson.
Il need not remind you of the stag
gering cost of the World War nor OF the
horrifying cataclysm the next war would
involve"
He reviewed the steps taken by the
League of Nations toward disarmament,
including the creation of permanent
Advisory Committee, the draft treaty OF
mutual assistance in 1923, the Geneva
protocol of 1924, which carried the
principle of reconciliation further; the
Locarno treaties of 1925, and the nVe
years work of the Preparatory CommS-
sion for this conference.
No Problems Excluded.
He intimated that way was open
for the introduction of war debts and
reparations into the deliberations OF
this conference by saying, None OF the
problems and difficulties to Whlch l
have alluded is excluded from the scope
of our discussions"
Among those illusions was his refer
ence to the fact that the League OF Ma
tionS recognizes that political, economic
and social factors are vital in any con-
sideration of the worlds welfare.
The world wants disarmament, ne
concluded, the world needs dlsarma =
ment. We have it in our power 10
help fashion future history