LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1927, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Australia <fc N.Z. Cable Association.] ARMAMENTS. GENEVA, March 21. 'lhe Preparatory Committee of the Disarmament Conference opened here. Viscount Cecil presented a draft Convention, This provides: firstly—l luit the contract,mis shall inform the Secretary-General of the League every year as to what .miminl they propose spending on their land, naval and air armaments during tiiat year.

Secondly—That the contiacting Bowers shall limit tlmir land effective lorccs.

Thirdly—'.l hat, the tonnage of any one ship, and the number and the tonnage ot all the ships of its class and the calibre ot its guns must not exceed the .figures laid down. Fourthly,—Tint the contractants shall accept the Washington Nava! Agreement. further—That the limitation of air armaments shall be effected b.v restricting the number of aircraft studied to the shore bases to fifty. _ One chapter of the draft Convention deals with the procedure to be followed in cases of \ dilation of the Cnventioti, the duration of which is to he ten years. Lord Cecil said:—“The Convention does not propose any definite figures, which will remain to he settled by the Conference, which possibly will he in Junes The Convention does not prevent the loiitmctauts from increasing their armaments beyond the figures of the prospective Treaty in the following eases:—First, of a war in which tile eontractant. is a belligerent : .secondly. iu the ease o' a threatened rebellion; thirdly, in an emergency involving serious military operations; and fourthly, in case of such an increase as may he agreed to by the League of Nations Council.” GENEVA. Marcii 22. In presenting a draft of the Disarma-

ment Convention Lord Cecil said: “The development in modern armaments since the last war was such that (lie greatest problem facing the world is whether we can take tulvautage of the

present lull to build up safeguards that will prevent another war, which might 1 end our civilisation. The Disarmament' Commission must demonstrate that i the reduction and limitation of armaments is a practical possibility. After . that, each nation must declare its position regarding armaments.” M. Boncour (France) announced that he would submit a plan embodying the views of the French Government. Signor Demarinis ( ltaly'l said that if all the other 'Bowers reduced their armaments, Italy was ready to follow, but her geograhpical position must not he overlooked. GERMAN VIEW. (Received this dav at 9.30 a.m.) BERLIN. March 22. A desire to preserve peace in Europe is rooted so strongly in all countries that the breach between Italy and Jugo-Slavia would be condemned throughout the world, declared flerr Stresseman, in the Reichstag. “I do not believe there is acute danger, hut a calm survey discloses the final consolidation of the general interim t ioiud situation is still distant. Germany’s position is definitely defined by tjic Locarno entry to the League and the Ger-man-]?,ussia agreement. Therefore she will refrain from interference in Jugoslavia, hut if summoned to co-operate, her efforts will only he aimed at removing the causes of friction.” TUT?,KEY AT CONFER.ENCE. GENEVA, March'22. Although not a member of the League, Turkey is participating in the economic conferciKe, being represented hv Hassau Bey.