Evening star., 1933-12-06
BY JOSEPH E. SHARKEY.

BY JOSEPH E. SHARKEY.
GENEVA, December Up.-In the
absence of the president of the Dis
armament Conference, now in Paris to
discuss direct negotiations, the opinion
is voiced by many delegations remaining
at Geneva that the probable solution to
the crisis will be found in controlled
rearmament Of Germany.
The time-worn expression, mo arma-
ment of Germany" some delegates be-
lieved, must go by the board unless
the heavily-armed powers are disposed
to scrap their armaments. 1t Is gener-
ally considered the powers are unlikely
to agree to this.
A committee appointed to devise a
system of control of ornaments, upon
which sat Hugh Wilson, United States
Minister to Switzerland. has concluded
its examination of the problem.
Examination of ornaments In all
countries by spot investigation has been
recommended to the committee by many
delegates.
Commission Would Act.
This would mean that a commission
would have the right to visit the United
States and examine her ornaments if
this plan is incorporated in the dis
armament convention.
Chairman Burguin of Belgium will
summarize the committees suggestions
tomorrow. Definite recommendations
are found to be difficult in the absence
of Germany.
Germanys position has been stated
and restated by her chancellor and
others. Germany is represented as
ready to refrain from rearming pro-
vided the heavily armed states pledge
themselves to come down to her level,
gradually. Germany was convinced
she saw no evidence of this intention
to scale down, so she bolted both the
League of Nations and the Disarma-
ment Conference.
Direct although secret negotiations
have been started between France and
Germany. Their success, it is believed,
Germany can reach real political un-
derstanding. The European problem of
reduction of armaments hinges directly
on this.
Sir John Simon States Views.
Sir John Simon, British delegate to
the Disarmament Conference, put the
matter this way:
1T is not because France is warlike
that she hesitates to reduce her arma-
ments. 1t is because of the repeated
invasions she has suffered. If we
would put ourselves in the places of
Frenchmen whose parents underwent
the German invasion of 1870 we
would understand why France wishes to
be certain that disarmament would es-
tablish a durable peace"
On the other side of the picture, Sir
John alluded to the spirit of the Ger
mans who have known the humiliation
of defeat and to the determination of
the younger German generation that
their country shall obtain anew gen.
uine equality among the powers.
Two problems confront the negotia-
tions:
How can the reborn Hitler-held Reich
convince France that it entertains no
intention to launch into war of re-
venge?
If she can succeed in convincing
France, how far will Germany be per-
mitted to rearm?
Confidence Is Lacking.
The truth is that statesmen are in
clined secretly, If not avowedly, to the
belief that for the present at least no
considerable reduction of armament is
practicable.
The reason is that confidence Gin the
other fellow" is lacking.
With Germany once more back in the
conference, negotiations would seem
likely to turn toward an agreement to
have all armies, including the German,
on a short-term conscript basis. with
perhaps some reductions in the numbers
of troops under the colors.
The apparent weight of opinion
against the practicability of disarming
at present leads to the growing notion
that Germany will be allowed slowly to
rearm. But France will insist on a
strict system of control-automatic
thorough and conducted on the spot
without any beforehand warning.