Evening star., 1933-09-23
BIG FOUR POWERS
FORM ARMS PACT.
U. S., France, Britain and
Italy to Present United
Front Against Germany.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, September 23.-That the
United States, France, Britain and
Italy will face Germany with a united
disarmament front at Geneva was fore
seen by French officials today as a re-
suit of tentative agreement for the
Limitation and control of arms
The understanding. which awaits
ratification by the governments, was
reached in conferences by representa-
tives of the first three powers, French
sources announced.
Obtaining Germany's acceptance of
this common viewpoint" they said. re-
mains the principal obstacle, but hope
was expressed that a four-power ac-
cord will be completed by October to
enable negotiations with Germany to
proceed along solid front" with the
reopening of the World Disarmament
Conference October is.
French May Cut Army.
The French were understood to have
indicated a willingness to trim their
powerful army if the German Reichs-
wehr is transformed into short-term
militia during a transition period pre-
liminary to a reduction in arms
The duration Of this period and the
method of arms supervision, on which
the French and British differed, seemed
virtually settled with the reported
agreement on a three or four year Pc
Rod, with supervision exercised by a
permanent committee to be named by
the conference.
Foreign Minister Joseph Paul -Boncour
said he would outline solutions to the
various problems before the French
cabinet today, but formal approval was
not expected until France hears from
the American, British and Italian gov
ernments.
Penalties Are Problem.
Some difficulty also was experienced
regarding penalties suggested for
breach of any pact. American Ambas-
sador Norman H. Davis said his gov
ernment would not approve the imposl-
ton of sanctions or penalties.
The convention would be divided into
two parts-a transition period Tor tax.
ing an inventory of existing arms and
electives and the disarmament pnaSe
itself.
In American quarters it was said that
"the mere fact that the European Sit
uation has become so serious IS BRING
ing about decisions which we could not
get otherwise"
The German disarmament counter
proposals, which Konstantin Won
Neurath, German foreign minister, Will
announce at Geneva, still remained
secret, but they aroused speculation.
German Conditions.
The German Ambassador visited Lord
Tyrrell, the British Ambassador, yester-
day, but French officials said nothing
was known of the German plan. The
three powers, instead of seeking to an
ticipate the German ideas, pursued the
original French scheme.
The German propositions were given
by the newspaper L'Echo de Paris as
acceptance of an automatic supervision
and test period under the four following
conditions:
First, Germany would be authorized
to fortify the Franco-German frontier
the same as France.
Second, these defenses would be equip
ped with heavy artillery.
Third, air bombers would be abolished,
but pursuit planes would be permitted
all countries, including Germany.
Fourth, supervision would be arranged
especially between the countries. for ex-
ample, between France and Germany,
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