Evening star., 1933-04-25
DAVIS TAKES LEAD
AT GENEVA PARLEY
American Calls on Several
Delegations While Waiting
New Instructions.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GENEVA, April 25.-While awaiting
definite instructions from Washington
which are expected to be an outgrowth
of the Roosevelt Mac Donald -Herriot
disarmament conversations, Norman
H. Davis, American arms representative,
vigorously attacked the disarmament
problem prior to today's opening ses-
sion of the Arms Conference.
Mr.. Davis saw the British delegation,
Count Rudolf Nadomy Of Germany and
Arthur Henderson, president of the
conference, with the object of speed
ing up procedure.
informal talks by delegates to the
meeting concentrated on the Washing
ton conversations, and the opinion was
general that they would give new and
needed impetus to the arms parley.
The conference has reached the
stage of considering concrete proposals
for arms reductions, which it Is agreed
are tied up inextricably with the meas
ures for economic recovery being Sifted
at the Roosevelt talks.
Heretofore disarmament, like eco
nomic recovery, has been impeded by
moral apprehension for the future.
Norman H. Davis, United States Am
bassador at large, Is here to put the
same vigor in this Conference that
President Roosevelt is injecting in the
broader field of problems. The main
task is to allay fears Of European ma
tions that their national soil may be
invaded.
Difficult Road Ahead.
The resumption of disarmament ef-
forts Is centered about Franco-Ger-
man relations. The opinion Is ex-
pressed by most delegates that if France
and Germany would reach an arma-
ment agreement the whole problem OF
disarmament would take on new
| aspect and soon find a solution.
Until, however, France and Germany
get together, perhaps through the
channel Of Mussolini's four-power di-
rectorate for Europe peace efforts, and
supplement the Locarno pact OF peace
on the Rhine by peace agreements
wider in their scope, 1t Is belleVed tnt
Disarmament Conference will continue
to find the shedding very hard.
France continues to put international
security against aggression In front ol
disarmament and will adhere appar-
emily to her policy OF making progress
sive disarmament contingent upon ano
proportional to progressive security
against war and the certainty of mu-
tual assistance to any state that be-
comes the victim of an aggressor.
Fights Versailles Limits.
On the other hand. Germany Is con-
vinced the military clauses OF the
treaty of Versailles can no longer check
her as a great world power. Just as
reparations have gone by the board, sc
does Germany believe the inequality OF
armaments created by the treaty Of
Versailles should no longer exist.
She wants the right to arm up to the
level of other nations o. wants the
other nations to come down to hel
level. pointing out that the treaty II
question itself demands progressive dis.
armament OF all.
At all events, the conference will re-
sumo with determination to study piece
meal the British draft convention which
like former Secretary of State Hughes
draft presented at the opening of tn
Washington Naval Conference, has tn
advantage Of containing concrete fig
ures
Germany, under this project, get
100000 soldiers in the home countr,
with none for overseas. the reason be
ing that Germany lost her colonies un
Ger the Versailles treaty. France get
100000 at home and an additiona
200, 900 troops for her colonies.
Seek Aviation Control.
Italy gets 100000 for her homeland
with an extra $4,000 for overseas pos
sessions. Poland gets total of 200 00'
troops, while Soviet Russia is slated t
have the biggest army of all, namel.
900 troops.
Both England and the United State
desire to see France and Italy adher
to the London Naval Conference ant
efforts will be made to bring France AM
Italy in harmony as to their futur
naval building programs.
The United States, Canada, Argentin,
and Japan have presented proposals t
prevent misuse of civil airplanes TO
army purposes. They oppose interna
tionalization of civil aviation, but ar
ready to join in some measures TO
such control.
The British Draft Convention allo
Gates 500 military planes each to Grea
Britain, France, Italy, Japan the Unite'
States and Russia, and none to Ger
many, under treaty restrictions.
Streets Of Glasgow. Scotland, are t
be made safer for horses in slipper