Evening star., 1933-05-14
ROOSEVELT HOPES
LIE IN ARMS ACCORD
Guarantees U. S. ConsuIta.
ton, in Pareys Here, to Aid
Success at Geneva.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

0x CVNSxAN1lNk 0AVWN.
A rather definite enunciation Of the
foreign policy Of the United States has
been the tangible result Of the CONVEX
sations between President Roosevelt and
the leading European statesmen who
have visited Washington in the course
Of the last five weeks.
A promise to consult any time there
is threat of war has been definitely
given by the President to the nations
which have made their security the
paramount condition for q reduction Of
ornaments, according to a declaration
In the House Of Commons by Prime
Minister Ramsay Macdonald.
Old Policy Confirmed.
In giving this promise to consult, the
President has confirmed policy which
the United States has been following
for the last two years. America has
actively consulted with Europeon pow
ers, members Of the League Of Nations,
since the beginning of the Far Eastern
crisis regarding problems in that part
Of the world as well as in South America
where q war Is being waged by two
groups of nations.
Furthermore. Mr. Roosevelt is saying
In plain words what the former Secre.
tary of State Henry L. Stimson stated
in Q round about way last August. Mr..
Stimson interpreted the Kellogg pact
by saying that the United States was
Obliged to consult with other nations
every time there was q threat to the
peace of the world.
In approving the principle Of inter-
national consultation In his talks with
Premier Macdonald and Monsieur
Edouard Herriot, the President has been
endeavoring to save the all important
limitation Of arms conference. He, as
well as those European statesmen VINO
came to Washington during the last Jew
weeks. emphasized In their joint COM
muniques the fact that there can De
no hope Of achieving any positive re-
suits at the economic conference IN
London unless the nations Of the world
apree to disarm; consequently there can
be no hope Of bringing the economic
parleys to q successful and speedy con.
clusion unless the Geneva disarmament
conference succeeds first.
Conference Long DeadlockeA.
For over q year that conference has
been deadlocked. The French blocked
all moves, claiming that they cannot
disarm unless their security was guar
anteed, while the Germans by their
claim for arms equally rendered the
deadlock almost insoluble.
The President discussed the situa-
ton with Premier Macdonald whose
Judgment OF the situation he accepted
as being the most impartial.
Macdonald told Mr.. Roosevelt that
there was no possibility Of ending the
deadlock unless America decided TO
help the limitation Of arms conference
by . more determined attitude and by
entering into consultative pact. Her
riot confirmed all that Macdonald told
the President and added that the con-
ference was doomed II Germany was
not obliged to respect the disarmament
clauses of the Versailles treaty.
The Italians advised the President
that he will find sincere co-opera-
ton from Benito Mussolini every time
the United States and Great Britain
moved to obtain positive disarmament.
Alleviating French Fears.
Under the circumstances the Presi-
dent summed up the situation as fol-
lows: The fears Of the French could be
allevated by America declaring its
readiness to enter into . consultative
pact. This would mean that the Presi-
dent would have to without
consulting the Congress, by q mere
executive order-a delegate to repre-
sent the United States every time there
came up situation which might
threaten the peace of the world. Such
. delegate would sit at an international
conference and help designate the az
gressor whenever such q situation oc-
CURED. This gesture on the part OF the
United States, the President was told
by the French government and by Ram
say Macdonald, would allay the fears Of
France and would be a first induce
ment for them to reduce their armies
and war equipment.
But the French maintained that even
such promise could not influence
greatly Frances ornaments If Germany
One was to disband her professional
army and replace 1t by q national
militia and the other was that Ger
many should not be permitted to in
crease her heavy armaments.
Discusses German Situation.
The President discussed the situation
with Germany'S special representative,
DR.. Hjalmar Schacht, and found him
adamant The President then explained
to him that the United States would
back the French thesis at Geneva to-
gether with Great Britain and Italy.
On the question of disbanding the
Reichswehr. the President Is reported
to have told Dr. Schacht that he was
in favor OF such move. especially that
all the German governments since the
end OF the war until the coming into
ONCE Of Adolph Hitler have been plead
ing to be permitted to replace their
professional army by conscript army.
This the German government demanded
because the professional army was too