CARDS ON THE TABLE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 73, 29 April 1929, Page 8

CARDS ON THE TABLE

Australian Press Association

DISCUSSIONS AT GENEYA. Armaments Limitation Question.

GENEYA, April 27. Air Gibson made an important statement 011 the limitation of military effectives. He pointed out that the United Statcs always maintained that trained reserves should be mcluded in jicace time armaments. He urged the delegates to make all possible concessions and freely place tlieir cards on tlie table, not to adopt a spirit of bargaining, which would lead to nionths oi negotiations. AI. Alussioli (Francc) approved Mr Gibson's view, and said France was readv to coinply, placing her cards ou the table. Baron Sato said Jnpan was ready to make all possible conccssions. Tlie committee agreed witli Litvmoft's projiosal tliat preparations should not be made in peace time to converfc aeroplanes into war planes. Tlie commission faced a new conflict of viewpoints. Count Bcrnstorff asked ltave to consider over night Mr Gibson's new concession of not insistmg on tlie inclusion of trained reserves in peace effectives. Count Bernstorff today insisted that trained rcservists were of primary interest to Germany. IMPORTANT ELEMENTS. He was sure a metliod could be disccvered whereby they could be taken into aceount if cverybody made a concession, otherwise important elements employable in war time would be ignored. Germany was unable to niaintain reservists under the conditions imposed on her. She was willing to abandon insistenee on the abolition of conscription, but must fnsist tliat reservists should be estimated not numerically but on the basis of theii value. , Air Gibson, in deference to _ the wishes of the majority of tlie Continental Powers, announced that he would r.ot insist 011 the United States reservation favouring the inclusion of peace time effectives. The Dutch delegate regrettecl this tiiid Sciicl if tlie mclu«sion eventu&lly was impossible the Dutch delcgation must ask leave to withdraw. Tlierefore he was glad that the present committee's decision was no final. Litvinoff also expressed regret, and said liis Government would accept any agreement for a reduction of all categories of armaments, active or reserve, conditionariv 011 the same veduction be11m applieable in a similar degree to otiier countnes. The conference, by opeslv admitting tlie exclusion O1 trained reserves, would not be able to solve the disarmament problem. TRAINED RESERVES. Lord Cuslienden was of opinion that the committee should inelude traine'l reserves, but was prepared 111 the interests of the success of the cominitke's work, to agree to the views of tne majority. Any other course would bo fatal. C'ount Bernstorff's suggestios would be impraetieable. Tliere was 110 conscription in Britain. The (,'hinese delegate delivered a long address, urging expedition. He deciared that 110 real disarmament was possible under conscription. He urged its suppression. Tlie commission is not expccted to accept this. It bas adjourned. Tlie committee adoiited a Frcncli amendment elaborating tbe original convention and enahling tbe signatories to indicate separately tbe liuniber of aoroplanes, dirigiblcs and aircraft carriers at lioine or overseas : also, tlie number of aeroplnnes and organised military basos at lionic or ' abroad. I Tlie British and Japaiiese delegations ; to tbe disarniament commission leceivi ed instruetions to cnsure tliat a special ! effort be made at the present scssion I to agree to a future navnl disariimniont" confcrencc, probahlv at Wasliington in 1930.