Evening star., 1933-10-15

y.
speak plainly and
-------- frankly, for the
q, ,o,, s,uo,. time has gone by
for CLOSING over
dificulties by vague optimistic phrases.
A system OF agreed disarmament
promptly entered into and loyalty car
ried out would, I believe be Of the
greatest value to the world; but am
equally clear that nothing is gained by
interminable discussions which do not
face essential matters on which d1ner-
ences may still exist.
British Convention
Used ~ Draft Basis.
1.-THE address which I have to render
Is as follows:
so far as the United Kingdom
representatives are concerned We have
taken part in meetings at different
times with the French, German, Italian
and American representatives as well
as in a number OF talks with the rep
resentatives of some other powers.
These conversations have led me to
take the view that the draft conven-
tion which the United Kingdom gov
ernment put before the general COM
mission over six months ago and which
has been unanimously adopted rs the
general framework for the proposed
agreement will 4equire to be in some
respects recast. The draft convention
is at present drafted to cover a period
Of five years, the discussions which I
am summarizing indicate on the part
Of some powers a wish that the period
should be extended to perhaps eight
years and so far as recall no serious
objection to this extension has been
(omission in cabled text.
1T was further proposed that this
period Of eight years should be occu-
pied by the fulfillment Of continuous
of the period two essential conditions:
"la) A substantial measure of dis
armament actually realized and COM
pleted on the part Of the heavily armed
powers, and
"(b) The achievement Of the prin-
ciple Of equality in regime OF security
which. ever since December Of last year,
has been the declared objective not only
Of the powers who signed the declara-
ton Of December IL, but OF the Dis
armament Conference itself. But IN
order to attain this 1t Is necessary to
proceed by steps. Indeed. the method
Of stages has from a very early date
been adopted as the necessary method by
the general vote of the conference. And
when I speak Of program which would
gradually unfold In action so as to Sc
cure at the end Of the period these
two essential conditions. recall the
language of Mr.. Henderson in his re-
port to the bureau on october last,
when he declared. On some OF the more
important questions the approach IS
manifestly Influenced by the present
tlal tot ~ N.
suing distrust, fears and alarms The
present unsettled state Of Europe is a
fact. and statesmen In drawing up
their plans have to face facts. The
need, therefore, for modifying the draft
convention SO as to accomplish this
purpose by q process Of evolution Is
clearly established.
Eight-Year Period
OF Transition Urged.
: "The scheme, therefore, which emerged
for consideration as the result OF a
number of these interviews was one in
which the proposed period Of eight
years would begin with the transforma-
ton of continental armies on the lines
set out in the British draft, together
with the setting up, through the me-
dunn of-the Permanent Disarmament
Commission. Of an adequate system OF
supervision so that the sense of Secur-
ity which the due observance Of the
convention will afford should provide
the groundwork for the practical at
tainment of the two ideas of disarma-
ment and equality. Mr.. Henderson has
suggested that the Permanent Disarma-
ment Commission might be set up as
soon as the convention is signed with
out waiting for ratification. II this
suggestion Is found feasible 1t ought to
be welcomed, for 1t aims at shorten
ing the period when actual disarma-
ment and attained equality would be
effectively reached. It is understood on
all hands that the supervision contem-
plated would be Of general application.
It's purpose would be to insure that the
undertakings contained in the conven-
ton were being Loyalty observed. It
is a matter for close consideration to
determine how much Of eight years
would be needed for the initial steps to
which I have referred. Transformation
of armies involves technical questions
which will govern the time limit and IN
the meantime real feeling Of conf
dence should develop when 1t Is seen
Is in due process Of execution. With
out binding myself finally to the length
of this first stage, report that the
period Of four years was mentioned by
several governments. though others
have raised the question whether 1T
could not be somewhat shortened.
Specifically Demanded
Regarding Reduction.
"Whatever the length Of this first
stage may be 1t Is essential to make
clear that the convention itself would
have to contain at the time Of its
signature the detailed scheme Of dis
armament provided for as the final
result to be attained by the time it,
full period of say eight years comes
to an end. I have described that dis
armament as Substantial and the ex-
tent Of it has been the subject of de-
tailed discussion. Since general phrases
will not advance matters. add that
by substantial disarmament Is meant
either the disarmament provided fol
in this draft convention or some COM
parable variation Of 1t. I say quite
definitely that the whole scheme would
not be satisfactory to my government
and we could not lend our own support
to It unless the degree of disarmament
by the heavily armed powers Is both
fully defined In the convention and
really adequate. But there is another
feature in the second stage Of the plan
which Is equally definite. 1t is this:
The results of the abolition Of various
kinds Of armament and Of prohibition
against their further use will be tc
constitute q common list Of permitted
arms which would become the same fol
all countries and thus the dif1erential
position of the powers whose arma-
ments were limited by the peace treaties
would finally cease. Quantities ano
other detailed regulation would. Of
course, be in each case the subject
Of negotiation. and agreement.
"The bureau will. therefore. see that
the plan I have outlined Is one which