Evening star., 1933-05-18
u. S. AWAITS ACTION
|0N ARMS PLEDGES
France Regarded as Key to
Success at Parley if Hitler
Keeps Word.

Continued From First Page)
powerful weapons Of war which have
been denied her.
This demand, coupled with the rise
to power Of Hitler, aroused French
fears Of German rearming despite the
treaty and increased the obstacles with
which the Geneva Arms Conference Is
struggling.
France and its allies-the little
entente, comprising Czechoslovakia,
Yugoslavia and Rumania, Poland and
Belgium-were reluctant to lay aside
the very weapons the possession Of
which enables them to hold the re-
strictive provisions Of the peace treaty
on Germany and its one-time allies,
if not by sheer power of bayonet. at
least b. the strong persuasive force
which their possession involves.
the opposing desires Of the French and
the German groups of states in Europe
which brought President Roosevelt into
the picture with his fortnight appeal
to the sovereigns and the presidents of
all nations and through them to world
public opinion.
The strong force Of. the modified
opinion aroused by a straightforward
statement of how to accomplish prac-
tical disarmament was credited by
many here with the conciliatory tone
of Hitler in his address to the ReichStag
yesterday.
Success Held Up to France.
France now is regarded as the nation
which holds the key to success. pro-
vided Hitler's words are borne out by
the deeds Of his delegates at Geneva.
But before France agrees to any sub
stantial scrapping of armamentS, those
who know her established policy well
realize the insistent demands Of her
citizenry for assurance Of security
against another attack like that of 1914
safeguards in the form of concrete
guarantees from outside her borders.
The big question is whether France
will regard as sufficient assurance Of
her security" the lengths to which the
Roosevelt administration Is willing to
go in the maintenance Of world peace.
The President in his message to the
sovereigns declared for aboliShment Of
the weapons of offensive war and pro-
posed non-aggression pact under
which no troops would be sent hereafter
beyond national frontiers.
While indicating the United States
would consult with its fellow nations on
a threatened violation of such a pact,
the President, we'll remembering the
fate of Wilson when he sought to in
volve America intimately in the affairs
of Europe, authorized yesterday an ex-
planation emphasizing that in such a
consultation the United States would
retain full freedom Of action and would
not pledge itself in advance to be bound
by the decision of its fellow nations as
to coercive measures against an aggres
Sor.
Through Davis the United States has
told the Geneva Conference it Is pre-
pared to make very great efforts" for
the maintenance of peace once real dis
armament has been assured. What those
efforts are the President has not yet re-
vealed.
United States Stand Announced.
Apparently in answer to the Hitler
reference to the United States becom-
ing the "guarantor of peace" and an
address by Prime Minister Ramsay
Macdonald Of Great Britain, hailing
policy regarding Europe, the White
House stated emphatically that the
communication imposes no obligation
on the United States.
1t was described as committing this
Government on the following points
only:
l. If every other nation agrees to
eliminate weapons of offensive warfare,
the United States will do the same.
2. If during the disarmament period
every other nation agrees not to in
wade its neighbors, subject to existing
treaty rights, the United States will do
likewise.
3. If there is a violation of any such
agreements, the United States will con-
suit other nations.
Replies From IL Rulers.
The IL rulers whose replies were re-
ceived little more than "a hours after
the dispatch Of the original message
included King George of Great Britain,
who wired:
Il thank you for your important mes
sage which I have comm unicated to
my governments in order that it may
receive their fullest consideration"
The list also included a woman
sovereign-Queen Wilhelmina of the
Netherlands, who said she spoke for
nation which "abhors war" although
it would, "of course. resist assault"
The others heard from were the
rulers of Austria, Sweden, Denmark,
Latvia. Norway, Cuba, Mexico, Panama
and Switzerland.
All expressed their appreciation OF
the Presidents intentions in his move
for peace and arms reduction as con-
tribution to economic recovery.
The President of France said in his
reply:
II have duly received the message
which you have been good enough to
send me in your capacity as head OF
the Government Of the United States.
thank you for your communication.
I hasten to render homage to the lofty
sentiment which has dictated 1t in
your fervelt love Of peace and your sin
cere desire for the economic recovery
of the people. The government of the
French Republic will study the COM
munication in a similar spirit and
community of aspiration"