Evening star., 1933-05-22

breach of the peace in violation of its
international obligations and take
measures against the violator, then, II
We concur in the Judgment rendered
as to the responsible and guilty party,
we will refrain from any action tend
ing to defeat such collective effort
which these States may thus make to
restore peace.
Finally we believe that a system Of
adequate supervision should be formu-
lated to insure the effective and faith
full carrying out of any measure OF dis
armament.
Prepared to Assist.
We are prepared to assist in this
formulation and to participate in this
supervision.
We are heartily in sympathy with
the idea that means of effective. auto
matte and continuous supervision should
be found whereby nations will be able
to rest assured that as long as they
respect their obligations with regard
to ornaments the corresponding obll-
cations of their neighbors will be
carried out in the same scrupulous
manner.
The disarmament conference has al
ready formulated measures for the es-
| tablishing of permanent disarmament
commission The powers now proposed
for this commission may well be re-
enforced The commission will have
many important duties, but none more
essential than that of effectively super
yising the fulfillment of the treaty.
We recognize that the ultimate ob1ec-
tive in disarmament must be attained
by stages. but we believe that the time
for the next and decisive step Is long
overdue and cannot be further post
poned.
Virtually all the nations Of the world
have entered upon the solemn obliga-
ton of the Briand-Kellogg pact to re-
nounce war as an instrument OF ma
tional policy and to settle their dis
putes only by pacific means.
If we are to keep faith with these
obligations, we must definitely make
up our minds to settle our disputes
around a conference table instead of
preparing to settle them on the battle
! field
1t was with such thought that the
President proposed an undertaking by
the nations that, subject to existing
treaty rights, armed forces should not
be sent across national frontiers.
In the long run, We may come to the
conclusion that the simplest and most
accurate definition of an aggressor is
one whose armed forces are found on
alien soil in violation of treaties
There have been two main obstacles
to disarmament. One was the appre-
hension that Germany proposed to
! rearm. the other the reluctance of the
armed powers of Europe in the present
state of the world to take a real step
in disarmament
If at this decisive point, any nation
should fail to give conclusive evidence
of its pacific intentions and insist upon
the right to rearm, even though the
other powers take effective and sub
stantial steps toward disarmament, then
the burden of responsibility for the
failure of the Disarmament Confer
ence, with the incalculable conse-
quences of such a failure, would rest
on the shoulders of that nation.
The problem with which we are
insists on rearming while the others
disarm. The result inevitably would
be another race in ornaments.
As regards the action of the other
powers, we are not unaware In the
United States of the political diff
culties which still lie in the way of the
reduction Of European armaments.
Recognize Legitimate Claims.
We recognize the legitimate claim
which any state has to safeguard its
security.
But We are firmly convinced that in
the long run this security can best be
achieved through a controlled disarma-
ment by which the military strength of
the most heavily armed nations is pro-
gresSively reduced to a level such as
that provided for in the peace treaties.
To the extent that ornaments Gre
ate political tension, they in them
selves constitute a menace to peace
and may ieopardize the security of the
very nations which maintain them.
If We take long step in the diEec-
tion of disarmament today and agree
by stages to achieve our ultimate OBJ
Jective, We can meet any legitimate
claim Of the powers bound by the peace
treaties and at the same time effectively
help to insure peace
A few days ago the conference met
serious obstacle to further progress
in lis detailed examination OF the Brit
ish plan. Since then there has been
an appreciable change.
The recent speech by the German
chancellor before the Reichstag Clarity
Ing the German attitude and policy
with regard to disarmament and in
dorsing the proposal of President
Roosevelt has been most helpful.
This and also the subsequent an
nouncerent made here by our col
| league. Herr Nadolny, of Germany's ac-
ceptance Of the British plan as the
basis of the future convention have so
altered the situation as to Justify us
In assuming that we can now resume
our consideration of this plan with real
hope of agreement
Our present agenda is a considera-
tion of the chapters on war material
1t was understood that other related
subjects might be introduced and nv
colleagues may feel that I have made
wide use of the latitude thus given me
But in closing my remarks and to
Drlng our olscu:sicn back to the con-
crete question before us I desire to
state that the American delegation
accepts the chapter on material and
expresses the hope that the other dele
cations will join in this acceptance and
that the way may thus be cleared for
an immediate decision on the concrete
proposals in this chapter.
Ihls conference Is not only a dis
armament conference; it is an emer-
gency conference CT a world in a state
OF political uncertainty and economic
depression.
Deciding Test Seen Soon.
The next weeks will bring the de-
| cisive test. 1t will require courage and
craftsmanship to meet this test, but the
failure to do so will 60 far to shatter
any hope of world organization for
peace.
As far as the United States is con-
cerned, our abilities and our incentive
to collaborate whole -heartedly in the
continuing task of helping to msintain
world peace depends in large measure
upon the results achieved here in dis
armament
President Roosevelt's -mas- age is
clear indication CT the tact that the
United States will exert lis f,Iil nou,a,