Evening star., 1933-05-23
ROOSEVELT SEEKS
PARIS AGREEMENT
Abandonment of Offensive
Weapons Held Foremost
Objective.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Quick French concurrence in an in
ternational pledge to abandon the
mighty weapons of offensive warfare Is
now the foremost objective Of Roose-
welt diplomacy. While a welter Of re-
lated problems clamored for the busy
Presidents attention today, he conf
IDENTIFY looked for word from overseas
that Frances traditional demand for
concrete assurance of national security
had been satisfied by the newly ex-
pressed American attitude promising
cooperation in enforcing the peace OF
the world
Meanwhile a Japanese delegation was
speeding to the Capital to discuss with
him the whole wide-ranging field OF
international economy. To the fore
sprang the perplexing problem OF war
fare in the Orient, intensified by the
position of Japanese troops at the gates
of China'S ancient capital and the
American definition of an aggressor
nation as one that sends its troops onto
alien soil in violation of its treaties.
Naming Seen Imminent.
In addition, at least two more dele
gates to the London Economic Confer
ence had to be chosen and announce
ment of their names was believed i'm
minent. Hiram johnson of California,
unyielding Senate defender OF the pol
icy of isolation, was considering an in
vitation to become a delegate. James
Wadsworth of New York, Republican
House member, was regarded a strong
possibility.
Still another pressing subject was
bill virtually ready for submission TO
Congress, under which the Chief Ex-
ecutive would have authority to revise
downward the Smoot-Hawley tarln
schedules in return for similar con-
cessions from other nations. One hnal
conference with Secretary Hull, post
poned from yesterday, was due before
the bill could be pronounced ready.
Secondary reflections on the new
foreign policy, enunciated by Norman
H. Davis, Roosevelt's ambassador at
large, before the Geneva arms reduc-
tion conference, and comparison OF
its principal points with French de-
mands as stated in Paris Sunday night,
brought disposition to believe that
agreement on German principles was
near.
For the first time the phrase "organi-
zation for peace" fell from the lips OF
an American diplomat. The Davis
speech, amplifying the message sent
around the world by Mr.. Roosevelt a
week ago today, committed the Wash
ington Government to:
Arms reduction by successive stages
to a level determined by the needs Of
self-defense;
Consultation with other nations when
war is threatened;
Other Commitments.
An avoidance of any action which
would hinder collective efforts to en-
force peace, agreed upon by other ma
tions after they have decided which
of two hostile nations is the aggressor,
If the United States concurs in that
decision; and supervision Of armaments
by an international commission.
The French position was summed UP
In Paris as insistence upon quickly
established supervision of ornaments,
arms reductions by stages, immediate
cessation Of armament construction, a
willingness on the part of other nations
to abolish offensive arms, and ultimate
destruction of nalization OF
offensive weapons.
All the other great powers OF Europe
have Joined America in indorsing the
British disarmament plan. the primary
point of which is the abolishment OF
powerful mobile guns, heavy tanks,
bombing planes and poison gas
Mr.. Roosevelt is hopeful that agree
ment in principle can be achieved be-
fore the London economic conference.