Evening star., 1933-03-16
MACDONALD ASKS
LARGER ARMY FOR
. GERMAN REPUBLIC
British Premier Would Double
Limit Fixed by Versailles
Treaty.
NEW PROPOSAL MADE
FOR ARMS AGREEMENT
Reduction of Tanks and Heavy
Guns-Ban on Air Bombing
Included in Plan.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 10
Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald Of
Great Britain, presenting new plan
fer peace and security to the World
Disarmament Conference today, pro-
posed an army of 100000 men for Ger
many, doubling the maximum limit set
by the treaty of Versailles.
Delivering an impassioned appeal es-
pecially directed to France and Ger
many for abandonment of fear and
cultivation of confidence, Macdonald
laid the newest British disarmament
and security plan before the conference,
Demanding contributions to peace
from both armed and unarmed nations,
he solemnly warned of the danger ex-
isting in the international situation.
we can almost hear the very fabric
of our civilization cracking about our
cars he said.
Proposals Offered.
The plan embodies a draft disarma-
ment convention providing for the re-
duction of tanks and heavy field guns
and prohibition of air bombing. It
also attempts to couple abolition Of
military aircraft with guarantees against
the conversion of civil aircraft to
fighting purposes.
1t provides pledge Of conference
among the signatories of the Kellogg
peace pact, in case of a breach of its
provisions. thus paralleling recent ut
teranceS by Henry. L. Stimson, Secre-
tary of State in the Hoover cabinet.
1t also includes an effort to deter
mine the numbers of electives for Con-
tinental European states, but no such
attempt is made with regard to non-
European countries.
The following definite figures are sug-
gested for the chief European nations:
Germany, 100000; France, 200, 900 for
home defense and 100000 overseas; /;
Italy, 100000 at home, $4,000 overseas
Other Limits Sought.
This would reduce the French Army
about one-third. paralleling the pro-
posal of President Hoover.
No maximum was suggested for the
British Army
Austria's electives would be fixed at
$4,000, Hungary's at $4,000 and Bull
garia's at $4,000.
The French "allies" would be lined
up: Poland, 200 1000; Rumania, $50 900;
Czechoslovakia, 100000.
Russia would be given half a mil
lion men.
The plan would extend the London
naval treaty to include France and
Italy. 1t also would extend the naval
holiday of capitaa ships to all powers
except Italy, which would be permitted
to build one ship to balance the new
French cruiser Dunkirk.
Germany would be freed legally from
the naval restrictions imposed by the
Versailles treaty, but actually her naval
power would be fixed at the present
level until 1886.
The proposed treaty would remain in
force for five years. During that period
special international commissions would
be created to attempt conciliation and
settlement of vexing political problems
now disturbing Europe. A second
general arms conference would be held
just before the expiration Of the FIVE
year period.
Aircraft Proposals.
Mr. Macdonald admitted that thus
far he had been unable to figure out
a way to guarantee that civil aircraft
vii not be converted to war purposes.
Such a guarantee is essential to the.
abolition of military aircraft.
Therefore, he proposed limitation by
quantity and suggested these specific
figures:
For the United States, 500 airplanes;
Great Britain, 500; France, 500; Japan,
500; Italy. 500, and smaller figures for
other countries. He did not suggest
maximum for Germany.
These figures are not like the laws
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