Evening star., 1932-11-20
Fate of Geneva Armament Parlev
Rests on Whims of Political Gods

demand for immediate equality, which
the neutrals interpret as additional
proof OF her tnsincerity, Is that by
pressing for equality now she Is making
certain that that equality will be based
upon an increase in world armaments
If Germany were satisfied with juridical
equality, instead of material equality
then her neighbors would be prepared
to scale down their existing ornaments
progressively il proportion to their In
creased feeling of security Eventually,
1t is pointed out. the armaments of
Germany's neighbors would approximate
her military establishment, which she
herself admits, is ample for preserving
internal order and patrolling frontiers.
Has Ample Arms Now.
Any increase in Germany's arma-
nients-or those of any other European
country-would serve but one purpose.
that Of increasing offensive strength.
Since all countries, under the Covenant,
BRAND kellogg pact, The Hague Court
protocol and scores Of arbitration
treaties. have outlawed war. their pres
ent defensive armaments are considered
ample. Germany, for example, has
100000 highly trained Reichswehr
troops and around 300, 900 men in other
quasi military organizations at the dis
poSal of the government. The "schupos"
or police form formidable force Of
10000 men, while the Steel Helmets
need only arms and ammunition to
make an army. With interest on the
nations debt taking Is per cent of the
yearly revenue, the demand Of Won
Papen for a right to spend more money
on superhuous arms is tncompre-
hensible to the average statesman.
II political obstacles can be removed
before the general commission Of the
Disarmament Conference reassembleS.
there will be one project before it which
may save the face of the League. That
is the scheme submitted by group of
eight States-the Scandinavian group,
Holland, Czechoslovakia, Spain and
Switzerland. 1t envisages:
1. Juridica1 equality Of all states
under the convention. A gentlemens
agreement with Germany that she viii.
not take advantage of the juridical
right granted her to increase her pres
ent military establishment until al
hopes of reduction by other nations
have been abandoned. would be exacted.
2. Internationalization of military
aviation, States would be asked to
place a certain percentage of their war
machines at the disposal Of the League,
they would maintain independently q
small contingent and scrap the rest.
Up to Political Gods.
8. Drastic reduction in. numbers Of :
electives. equipment, etc. The scheme
here embodies q part Of the Hoover
proposals and would reduce the stand
ing armies Of the major powers by
about 100000 men. -
4. Abolition Of offensive weapons
such as tanks, submarines, heavy ar
tfllery. etc. A naval agreement among
the big powers for further limitation
Of navies by global tonnage and units. ,'
5. Some form Of international control
and supervision.
The control feature Of the Scandi-
navian scheme would literally put
teeth" into the BRAND kellogg out
lawTy OF war pact, and, in so far as
the arrangement TO consult" in times
of emergency Is concerned, 1t has the
sympathy of the American delegation.
However, as things now stand. the
future Of the Geneva conference Is In
the hands Of the political gods. Unless
Japan can be brought to terms and
Germany's equality" harmonized with
Frances security" thesis. the gods are =.
more than likely to throw disarmament
to the wfhds-arid. as the saying goes,
the world map reap the wl1iylwtnd.A