Evening star., 1932-04-08
ST IMSON HOPEFUL
AS HE LEAVES FOR
ARMS CONFERENCE
Secretary of States Depar-
ture Made at Timely Mo-
ment in European Affairs.
NEW LIMITATION PACT
Is AIM OF AMERICAN
Cabinet Member to Arrive in
Geneva as Crises Face Greece,
Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Secretary of State Stimson left Wash
ington at noon today for Geneva,
mildly hopeful that something may be
achieved in regard to the limitation Of
arms.
He hopes some new rules about the
future conduct of war, making it less
damaging. to the non-combatants, may
be drafted in the hope that nations will
abide by them. He also hopes that an
agreement may be reached to limit the
present super war engines, such as
heavy guns and tanks. 1t is also pos
sible that some agreement may be
reached to further humanize submarine
warfare, and prohibit the air lombard
ment of open cities.
To placate Germany. it is likely that
the statesmen who are meeting at
Geneva might agree to cancel the
military clauses contained in the treaty
of Versailles regarding that country ana
transfer them to the Leagues covenant
or to the new limitation OF arms agree
ment. Such step, it is thought, would
possibly satisfy Germany's pride. These
are the maximum achievements that
can be expected from the Geneva
meeting.
Agreed to Disagree.
The political sky of Europe is again
heavily overcast, because, as 1t was an
ticipated in certain diplomatic circles
here, the Danubian confederation par
leys proved completely fruitless. They
ended yesterday with the stereotyped
official communique that much grouno
had been covered by the participating
representatives of the four European
powers who had agreed to meet again
at some other time to discuss this prob
lem again. The truth is that, while
diplomats at Geneva had informed Nor
man Davis that they had finally agreed
to agree" in London the representa-
tives of France, Great Britain, Italy
and Germany agreed to disagree"
Much hope had been pinned by the
State Department in the success Of the
London negotiations to bring about a
Danubian confederation: It was genu-
inely believed here that this time 1t was
possible to get the European powers to-
gether. mainly because the economic
depression is being felt not only among
the smaller nations but the most pros
porous European countries as well. The
economic and financial crisis which is
threatening Europe, 1t was confidently
affirmed here, will necessarily compel
all these states to forget their petty
political rows and get together on some
really constructive scheme of political
and economic reconstruction.
Hope Not Abandoned.
The hopes of our statesmen seem so
far to have been in vain. The Danubian
confederation has failed, not because
italy and Germany refused to sacri-
flee the most-privileged nation clauses
they have with some of the Danubian
states, but because both of these coun-
tries saw in that new confederation
Frances hand and her intention of
further isolating them politically.
According to our diplomats. however,
all hope for successful conclusion of
these discussions must not be aban-
doned. France and Great Britain, which
have been working hand-in- hand for
the last two weeks. have lost the first
inning, but will endeavor henceforth
to work quietly to change the point of
view Of Germany and Italy. France Is
going TO concentrate on Germany
Great Britain on Italy. Germany will
be expecting a good many favors from
France in the course Of the next two
months, when the reparations question
will be on the carpet again. France
consequently, might induce the German
government to yield on the question of
the confederation in exchange for some
concessions on matters which concern
her more directly. Great Britain is
known to WELD a good deal of influence
In Italy and it is believed that she can
induce Italy to change her point view
These hopes are not altogether shared
by certain. well informed authorities on
international affairs. First of all, it is
said. France does not really care much
whether the Danubian Confederation
actually comes into being. She is more
concerned that Italy and Germany
should not organize such a body of the
Central and South European States.
Furthermore she is much more inter
ested in the reparations and her security
problems than in the chronic state of
distress of Austria and Hungary. The
other three states. Czechoslovakia.
JugoSlavia and Rumania. while hard
hit economically, are sufficiently strong
to survive the depression, especially
II France is willing to give them a help
ing hand.
PropitiOus Moment.
Secretary Stimson will arrive in Eu-
rope at a propitious moment. He has
repeatedly stated that his trips abroad
are very instructive to him. He GER
tainly will have ample opportunity to
learn a good deal. When he reaches
Geneva the Secretary of State will see
the most recent requests of Greece and
Bulgaria for immediate financial as