Evening star., 1933-05-18
GENEVA PROSPECTS
APPEAR BRIGHTER
Davis Speech Expected to
Win Nations to Reduction
Agreement.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

High American officials and a num-
Der of foreign diplomats were humming
today Happy Days Are Here Again"
because the prospects of an early con-
clusion Of the Geneva limitation OF
arms conference were brighter than
ever.
Ambassador Norman Davis speech
tomorrow at Geneva is expected with
a keen interest His speech in which he
will announce Americas decision to
participate In all international con-
sultations whenever there is a threat OF
war, will overcome, It is believed, the
last hesitation of those nations which
still don't know whether they should
sign the disarmament agreement with
out adequate guarantee for their Sc
curity.
Two things have brought about this
spectacular change Of attitude OF the
conferees at Geneva.
One was President Roosevelt's an
nouncement of last Tuesday and the
other was Hitler's conciliatory speech
yesterday.
Most of the principal powers accepted
the Presidents statement as an impor-
tanJ declaration, which would enable
the world nations to reduce their arma-
mentS.
Hope Pinned on Davis Speech.
France and the Little Entente have
not so far indicated clearly whether
the Presidents declaration and Hitler'S
speech were a sufficient inducement to
reduce ornaments, but 1t Is expected in
oh M v~ta In, q ck1 inn fnv
that Mr.. Davis speech will settle that
point. too. and after few days Of dis
cussionS OF the details of the problem,
the participating nations will sign an
agreement
It is admitted in responsible quar-
ters that the agreement which is con-
fldently expected to be reached at Ge-
neva Is not what was expected from
that conference.
But, it is said, after these many
months of fruitless discussions which
threatened to end in catastrophe,
even an agreement in principle is sat-
isfactory and marks progress toward the
ultimate goal.
The principal object which has been
achieved, in the case things move
henceforth as swiftly as 1t Is expected
here. is that the world nations. having
disposed temporarily of the arms prob
lem, can meet in London and discuss
Would Forget Hatreds.
On the satisfactory ending Of that
conference depends, according to high
officials, the practical disarmament Of
the world
II trade barriers can be removed, and
nations begin again to exchange goods
freely, the peoples Of the various coun-
tries antagonistic to each other, will
forget their hatreds and apply their
energies to work.
Under such conditions 1t is unlikely
that any government or agitator should
be able to distract the attention Of q
busy nation with political matters con-
corning a few hundred square miles of
territory or parity in ornaments
In diplomatic quarters here the be-
lief prevails the French government.
although not enthusiastic over Hitler's
declarations that Germany must be
treated as an equal IN all matters such
as armaments, will find acceptable the
proposal Of the German chancellor that
the nations possessing offensive weapons
should discard them within five years.
This, provided that the Germans do
not ask for the right to build sample
armaments within this period.
Mobile Commission Opposed.
There are, Of course, still number of
questions which are likely to cause
heated debates at Geneva. One of these
is the question Of a permanent and
mobile commission of control. To this
both the Italian and the German gov
ernments are opposed, for practical and
psychological reasons.
These two powers maintain that such
a permanent commission would create
unnecessary hard feeling in the country
where it wants to investigate rumol ed
rearmaments, while from the practical
point of view, it is pointed out thai
nothing constructive could be achieved
There has been such commission in
existence in Germany for a good many
years and yet this has not prevented
Germany from rearming. If the reports
to the contrary of the French general
staff are correct.
The American Government is said to
be in favor Of such a permanent COM
mission Of investigation. But If the op-
position from the other nations is
strong, there Is possibility Of adopting
the idea Of commission Of inquiry to
act only when it is required to do so ON
the basis of reliable evidence.