Evening star., 1933-05-28
ARMAMENT AGREEMENT
NOT LIKELY BEFORE FALL
Possible That Farley Will Continue to
Sit at Geneva While Economic
Conference Goes On.

gression. The second and third anncxeS
are still undiscuSsed.
The third annex will make trouble.
Great Britain and the United States
are not interested. Germany and Italy
are believed to be strongly opposed.
Part two concerns actual disarma-
ment in two sections: First, electives;
second materials.
The first section provides unifcation
to conscript militia on the type of con-
tlnental European armies. 1t excepts
nom European armies from this until
cation 1t proposes to give France,
Germany. Italy and Poland each 100000
men; the little entente. total Of
$4,000, and Russia, 100000, but 1t
allows France 100000 additional men
and Italy $4,000 additional men for
their colonies 1t also attempts to de-
fine the military value of police and
semi military organizations.
1t was over these definitions that
Germany nearly bolted the conference
again a fortnight ago. This section is
still undiscussed. 1t is sure to make
trouble. The Germans are reluctant to
turn the reichswar into a conscript
army, and they also protest Frances
right to have professional soldiers in its
colonies.
Figures Promised.
The British have promised but have
not yet produced figures for nom
European armies. Until Russia knows
the size OF Japan's Army under the
treaty, it cannot fix its own and, until
Russia accepts, Poland and Rumania
naturally will hesitate.
| The British seem to have hoped that
conclusion Of Mussolini's four-power
treaty revision pact would help the So
luton on effectives, but the outlook to-
day is that France, under negative pres
sure from Poland and the little entente,
will refuse to sign this pact
| Section concerns materials under
three chapter headings-land. naval
and air. On land it is proposed gradu-
ally to abolish all mobile guns over g.
inch caliber and all tanks over 16 tons
| by destroying one-third of them within
| year and the rest within three years.
| This chapter has not yet been discussed.
| France, however, will make a big fight
to keep its guns and big tanks longer,
while Germany and Italy will press for
! immediate destruction.
The naval chapter proposes to bring
France and Italy into the London naval
treaty by construction agreement to
hold everything else over until 1895
to cease building. This chapter met
strong opposition on all points in the
first reading Thursday and the whole
question remains wide open.
Air Chapter Undiscussed.
The main proposal in the air chap
ter, which is still undiscuSsed. is to
give Great Britain, France. Italy, ia
pan, the United States and Russia each
500 planes, but Germany none. Ger
many objects. 1t is also doubtful If
the United States. in view of the pres
ent underbuilt situation OF its Navy,
can consent to abandon its present su-
periority in the air.
Part three of the draft deals with
the exchange of information and is un-
important.
Part four prohibits chemical warfare
and doubtless will be adopted.
Part five limits the treaty to hve
years; abolishes the disarmament
clauses Of the Paris peace treaty. that
is to say, it gives eventual equality to
Germany. Austria. Hungary and Bull
! garia, and sets up Permanent Disarm-
ament Commission to supervise the car
rying out of the treaty.
This part will cause a hard struggle.
The French want to wait 10 years in
stead of five before seeing Germany
completely recover its freedom in arm
aments. They also want to strengthen
the powers Of the Permanent Disarma-
ment Commission. which, however,
Germany and Italy already object to
and will seek to weaken.
In short, the debates on the most
hotly contested issues are yet to come.
(copyright. 1a33D