THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1927, Page 2

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] DISARMAMENT PLANS. GENEVA, .March 2.?. The French draft of a disarmament convention was presented to the Preparatory Commission last night, it provides that any signatory who is a victim of aggression shall immediately he absolved from all limitation ■ of armaments. The signatories must notify the League annually regarding the daily average of their military, naval and aerial effectives.

The plan provides for the* reduction of land armaments, by limiting the number of effectives serving under the colours and the length of military service, but it does not affect the reserves.

It ai'so provides for a reduction ot aerial forces by limiting the total motoA power and cubic meters of dirigibles. Under the plan naval limitation Is to be effected by limiting the total tonnage of each country. The Little Entente have announced that they will ai'so submit a plan.

Count Bernsdorfl'. in the course of a statement, said that Germany’s role in the League was to help to attain an era in which the only war would be between the League and some aggressor. Thus war would he made practically impossible. This would necessitate the preventing of any nation from maintaining sufficient armaments against the League’s combined forces hut each state would be required to maintain a sufficient force to enable the League t'o act against any aggressor. Hence the sole aim of the Disarmament Commission should lie to attain a reduction sufficient to assure the effectiveness of the League in case of aggression. He added that Germany was already disarmed, and she had perfect right to ask for general disarmament.

GENEVA, March 22

Count Bernsdorfl', speaking at the Disarmament Commission, said Germany desired to assist in making the League a living reality, ushering in an era in which there would he only one kind of war—namely between the League and the aggressor. Ihe reduction of armaments was far more important than limitation. M. Sokal said it was impossible for Poi’and to contemplate full disarmament. She had had her cruel lessons in the 17th and ISth centuries. Nevertheless she was convinced an agreement could he reached. Lord Cecil, in nnterview. said he hoped a Sub-Committee w,feu Id ho formed to prepare a new draft convention from the alternative drafts. The British plan was a financial limitation, and moralv suggested an interchange of budgetary information, making the machinations of the Budget intelligible to the League. Britain held that the League's disarmament- decisions must he by a unanimous vote. He expressed the opinion that if the League made good progress. President Coolidge would he glad to assist- in disarmament, regardless of the venue or organisation under which it was arranged.