Evening star., 1933-05-28
DISASTER |MPENDS
| FOR ARMS PARLEY
Davis and Other Americans
Have Backs to Wall in
Fight for Conference.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

| SOTNS DnoNN.
| Norman H. Davis and the rest Of the
American delegation at the Geneva Linn
itation of Arms Conference are fighting
with their backs against the wall to
save that conference from disaster.
| The effect of the disarmament pro-
posals of President Roosevelt are be-
ginning to wear out, and most of the
nations which had received them with
oring to render them futile.
| The American delegates are doing
their utmost to reconcile the conflicting
points of view of the principal oppo-
nents to the disarmament idea, as con-
ceived by the President. In their ef-
forts to reach some kind of an agree
ment, which may permit the confer.
ence to adjourn without giving the i'm
preston that it had been complete
failure, they have decided to remain at
Geneva as long as necessary. That is
to say that the conference will continue,
after the economic conference begins
| its work
|
| The reports from Geneva are not
encouraging. Ambassador Davis con-
tinues to be hopeful, and this is one of
his main diplomatic qualities. He re-
mains hopeful, even when everything
points of disaster.
] The old groups of powers are again
aligned at Geneva, as antagonistic as
ever.
The French, with their allies, the
Poles and the Little Entente, are not
satisfied with the promise of the United
State Government to consult whenever
there is possibility of trouble. They
want this promise to take more for
NAL and definite shape, approaching
consultative pact. They do not say SO
officially at Geneva, but their objec-
tions to the Roosevelt plan indicate
plainly what they are after.
The French group objects to destroy
ing the offensive armament which
forms one of the principal points of
Mr.. Roosevelt's proposal They and
their allies contend that Germany is
not sincere and that the Hitler gov
ernment cannot be trusted. Instead of
starting with the junking of one-thiro
OF their heavy armaments, they would
like to wait for at least two years be-
for they begin this operation, and de-
stroy the major part OF their offensive
weapons after the third year of dis
armament.
Want German Militia.
In the meantime they wish the Ger
mans to begin as soon as possible the
process of Transforming the Reichs-
Wehr into national militia and want
a strict permanent and effective con-
troll of armaments by an international
commission, in which America shall
be represented. They are in favor of
an Observation-Disclosures of all aviation,
civil and military, because the German
commercial airplaneS can be trans
formed into military airpIanes, it is said,
within a short time
The German-Italian group, which is
worried about the power of the French
group seems more in sympathy with the
Presidents proposals, but both nations
insist that France should begin dis
arrning right away. They object stren-
uously to the Control Commission.
which they consider useless and likely
to create more trouble than good
The British are in special position
trying to reconcile the French and the
Italo-German point of view. They are
strongly opposed to the abolition of the
military aviation, which they consider
a necessary and useful police organi-
zatlon for their colonies and protec-
torates. But as far as an actual re-
duction of military forces is concerned
they are about in the same position as
the United States, since their army has
been considerably diminished since the
war and it is not more than a well or
gained police force. which takes care
OF India and the British Asiatic and
African possessions.
Japan Befogs Issue.
But the situation has become con-
slderably worse in the last few days
because OF Japans attitude. The Japa-
nese object to the definition of an ag-
gressor nation as expressed by Presi-
cent Roosevelt, they object to the abo-
lition of bombing planes and heavy
tanks, and since the naval question is
hkely to be reopened because of the
ef1orts OF the United States and Great
Britain to get France and Italy in the
London naval agreement, they want to
prlng up the question of japanese naval
parity with America
by coincidence. or because the French
and the Japanese interests run paral-
lei, the Two nations have found them
tlonal parleys in the last few wears.
The French desire to preserve the
League of Nations, the Japanese don't
much care what happens to that organ
lzatlon. Yet the Japanese opposition to
certain matters which are being brought
up at Geneva, obstructing the confer
ence, while fundamentally in conf, ct
with the French point of view. help the
purpose OF the French, which is that the
Limitation of Arms Conference should
not succeed. unless the French thesis
prevails in full. There is no French
Japanese formal understanding or plot.
1t is said in well informed quarters; it
Just so happens that unwittingly the
japanese are helping the French.
Situation May Improve.
The situation at Geneva may improve
It was said yesterday in official quarters
1t may be that the efforts of the Brit
lsh and the American delegates NAV
prevail upon the dissidents to come to
an understanding, even if it were only
temporary.
This is the only hope for the sue
cess OF the Geneva conference and it
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