LIMITING ARMAMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 197, 19 August 1907, Page 5

LIMITING ARMAMENTS

RESOLUTION AT HAGUE.

PRINCIPLE OF CONSULTATION. CARRIED BY ACCLAMATION. (Received 7.23 a.m.) (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) THE HAGUE, August 18. At a plenary meeting of the Peace Convention, Sir Edward Fry (Great Britain) moved a resolution confirming the 1899 resolution with regard to the limitation of military charges. The motion added: " Seeing that these have since considerably increased in nearly every country, that this Conference declares that it is highly desirable that Governments should resume the serious study of the question."

Sir Edward Fry announced that Great Britain was prepared annually to communicate with the Powers who would do the same. Her (Great Britain's) programme for the construction of new war vessels and her war expenditure entailed this. He said this resolution would facilitate the exchange of views between Governments with regard to reductions which might be effected by mutual agreement.

Mr. Choate (United States), M. Bourgeois (France), and M. Nelidoff (Russia ), and the Spanish. representatives supported Sir Edward's resolution, which was adopted by acclamation.

[The work of the 1899 Conference on the disarmament question was completed on June 30 by the adoption of a motion substantially to the following effect:— " The Commission considers: First, that it would be very difficult to determine, even for a period of five years, the figure of effective forces without regulating at the same time the other elements affecting national defence. Secondly, that it would be no less difficult to regulate by an international convention the elements of that defence as organised in each country according to very different views. Thirdly, that the restriction of those military burdens which at present weigh upon the world is greatly to be desired for the material and moral welfare of humanity."!