Evening star., 1932-02-09
Text of Gibson Speech
Chief of american Delegation at Geneva Makes
Nine Concrete Proposals for World
Arms Reduction.

ItuHeut 70 1tS pcoEuc 70 Alnn!oo1
suf1icient Increment of military strength
to defend the national territory against
aggression and invasion. We, there
fore, have this formula dividing our
military forces into two parts. Be-
yond this reasonable supplement to the
police force We have taken an implicit
obligation to restrict ourselves.
Our problem is, therefore, to estab-
lish by honest scrutiny and agreement
the margin that now exists beyond
what is essential for the maintenance
of internal order and defense of our
territories. Controlled by prudence, but
not by fear, let us then proceed in
practical way to reduce ornaments to
the level to which we are all committed.
THE American delegation has lis
tened with interest to the speeches of
Sir John Simon and M. Tardieu and
has been interested to note that each
OF them has begun this general dis
cusslon by concrete proposals, setting
forth at the very beginning of the con-
ference the contributions which their
governments can make to the cause
for which We are assembled. These
proposals and any others which may be
put before the conference will be ex-
amined with an open mind by my Gov
ernment and we tell that the best road
to success lies in similar statement
from every delegation that has some
thing positive to lay before us so that
we may set out upon our laborS with
the benefit of all the practical pro-
poSalS which 1t Is possible to bring for
ward at the outset.
No Comprehensive Plan.
"The American delegation has not
attempted to formulate and submit any
comprehensive plan for overcoming all
of the obstacles that exist in the way
of achieving a general limitation and
reduction IN ornaments. In the first
place, We do not desire to raise new
questions which will increase the points
of difference and thus delay taking the
forward steps which could otherwise be
taken. In the second place, we do not
believe the human mind Is capable of
SO projecting itself into the future as
to devise a plan which will adequately
provide for all future developments and
contingencies.
Since practically all the nations Of
the world have now pledged themselves
not to wage aggressive war, We believe
this conference should and can sue
ceSSfully devote itself to the abolition
Of weapons which are devoted primarily
to aggressive war and we are prepared
to give earnest and sympathetic con-
Sideration to any plans or proposals
which seem to furnish a practicable and
sound basis upon which we may effect
general limitation and reduction of
armaments and establish more
healthy and peaceful state of affairs.
1t is my purpose today to hay before you
certain points which the American dele
ftr,r, 81 Al..~
list is not exclusive and contains merely
some Of the thoughts which we feel
will carry on some of the purposes of
the conference
Il. The American Government advo-
Gates consideration of the draft con-
vention as containing the outlines for q
convenient basis for discussion, while
expressing its entire Willingness to give
full consideration to any supplementary
proposals calculated to advance the end
we all seek.
-. We suggest the possibility of pro-
longing the existing naval agreements
concluded at Washington and London
and we advocate completing the latter
as soon as possible by the adherence of
France and Italy.
"3. We advocate proportional educa-
ton from the figures laid down in the
Washington and London agreements on
naval tonnage as soon as all parties to
the Washington agreement have entered
this frame work.
Submarines and Gas.
q. We advocate, as we long have
done, the total abolition of submarines.
IS. We will join In formulating the
most effective measures to protect
civilian population against aerial bomb
ing.
'6. We advocate the total abolition of
lethal gases and meteorological war
fare.
81. We advocate, as have already
stated, the computation of the number
of armed forces on the basis of the
effectives necessary for the maintenance
of internal order plus some suitable
contingent for defense, and by bud
getary limitation of expenditures for
war supplies when their limitation has
been secured. The former are obviously
impossible of reduction; the latter is
question of relativity.
"8. We agree in advocating special
restrictions for tanks and heavy mobile
guns, in other words, for those arms of
a peculiarly offensive character.
20. We are prepared to consider a
limitation of expenditure on material
as complementary method to direct
limitation, feeling that it may prove
useful to prevent a qualitative race, If
and when quantitative limitation has
been effected.
Il have already said these nine points
are in no sense exclusive, but mention
them merely in order to focus attention
upon the methods in which we have
the greatest hope of early practical
realization.
The nations of the Western Hemis-
phere have long since prepared them
selves for an international life in which
the solution of difficulties will be sought
by pacific means only. The problem of
ornaments is not of the Western
Hemisphere. OF the five principal
navies of the world only one belongs to
an American nation and to this navy
the principle of proportionate linita-
ton and reduction has been compre-
hensively applied. Not single Ameri-
can nation possesses an army which
brings fear to its neighborS. For half
a century no international war has oc-
Cured between the nations of our
hemisphere. There is no surer evidence
that self-restraint from overarmament
safeguards peace.
Urges Frank Discussion.
There Is more security to be had in
friendly cooperation between nations
than in reliance on force. The best de-
fense nation can have is the good
will of its neighbors. Nevertheless, and
in spite of the fact that We ourselves
have reduced the personnel of our land
forces to figure below the proportion
reached by any great European power,
We are here to cooperate to the utmost
of our ability. We are prepared to
discuss and to extend to other fields the
principles of limitation and reduction of
armaments already established and to
examine and accept new principles if
they contribute genuinely to the end
defined
I'VE join our sister nations with the
deep conviction that the cause at issue
must not be diverted by lack of frank
discussion, by preoccupation with the
difficulties in the foreground or by a
weak surrender to the obvious impedi-
ments to progress. The delegation
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