Evening star., 1934-03-03
u. S. READY TO ADJ
IN REAL ARMS CUT
Note to England Seen Ef.
fort to Promote Mac
Donald Diplomacy.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The American reply to the British
note on disarmament, given by Under
Secretary Of State william Phillips to
the British Ambassador Sir Ronald
Lindsay on February 10, does not
change in any way the position Of
the United States regarding the dis
armament question.
The position of this Government
remains predicated on immediate and
effective disarmament. When these
become effective, the United States
Government will be willing to enter
into a general non-aggression pact
and may consider using the embargo
power demanded by the President
from the Congress against warning
factions.
While most of the elements con-
tanned In the British note are identical
with the ideas by the American dele
CATION since the 'opening of the Dis
armament Conference in 1892, Secre-
tary Phillips added "in other respects
they do not 60 SO far In measures of
actual disarmament as had been con-
templated."
AAAo SCAAtCAASC, bollCo III IIldIly dip.
lomatic niceties, is really the kernel
of the whole situation.
Actual Effect Small.
The Macdonald proposal, which Is
the result of many months of pains
taking negoations between Berlin,
London. Rome and Paris actually does
not contain much disarmament. It
provides for an increase of the Ger
man army from 100000 to 300 900
men, and 1t also provides for a sys-
tematic and gradual physical rearma-
ment OF Germany, by the fact that
the Reich IS conceded the right to
build light tanks and military air
planes. The British prefer to call
these defensive weapons" and as far
as definitions are concerned they may
be so.
But actually 1t is an increase in
ornaments "a long controversy can
be developed as to what is an often
SlVe and what Is defensive weapon) .
and this is against the views of the
PRESIDENT, who wants at least a gest-
ure to indicate the willingness of the
powers to diSarm.
1t is true that the British suggest a
! drastic reduction of the armaments
OF the heavily armed powers. But this
Will begin only within the next five
years. In the meantime facts speak
| for themselves.
Armament Race.
While the British memorandum has
been in the hands of the United States
Government since January 20, and In
the hands of the other interested DOW
erS Tor q much longer time, the world
powers have proceeded rapidly toward
an armament race.
The Germans, without waiting for
permission from the signatories OF the
versailles treaty to rearm, have al.
ready begun to equip their men with
modern war paraphernalia. Reports
from Paris, London and Rome state
that by the end of the Summer the
Germans will have a number Of war
planes. The numbers differ according
to the capital from where these re-
ports emanate. The French mention
about 5000 planes, the British and
the Italians believe that there cannot
be more than 1000 to 1,500. The fig
ure is probably much smaller, but
this Is immaterial as far as the Ge-
neva Conference Is concerned.
The French, worried about the dis
regard OF the Versailles treaty by their
former enemies are embarking on a
vast project Of military preparedness.
Air Force Increased.
The Chamber has just authorized
the expenditure of some 5000, 900, 900
francs for the aviation alone and
much more will be appropriated
shortly for the army and the navy.
The British themselves, through
Stanley Baldwin. have made it known
to the world that in face of these in
creased armaments they will be COM
PEELED to increase the appropriations
for their air force and the navy. The
army also will have a share In these
increased appropriations.
Under these circumstances, 1t Is
realized here that this Is not the
moment to talk disarmament But. in
order to show the goodwill of the ad-
ministration for this worthy idea, the
President was willing to reiterate the
position of the United States, which is
that this country Is always ready to
talk disarmament and actually 60 to
any lengths provided it Is disarma-
ment and not rearmament.
There is the usual joker In the
British note regarding the naval arm
aments. While being in harmony
with our position contained in the
draft convention, the British suggest
the possibility of "simplifying" this
chapter through further proposals the
British would be prepared to make to-
ward that end.
U. S. Is Wary.
Washington Is leery about this
"simplification" process. It is well
known that the British and the other
signatories of the two naval agree
ments, the washington and the Lon.
don pacts. have been endeavoring for
several years to induce the United
States to reduce drastically the ton
mage of the battleship to $4,000 or
5000 tons. This has been opposed
by all American governments.
The American reply, which had been
In the hands of the British govern
ment for over two weeks, was pub
lished only yesterday because it was
considered opportune to make an i'm
preston upon the other nations by
showing that America continues to
be interested in the disarmament
question and thus help the diplomatic
action of Mr. RAMSAY Macdonald in