The Guardian And Evening Star, with. which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1928. DISARMAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with. which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1928. DISARMAMENT.

An official statement in regard to the progress of disarmament in ex-enemy countries has been submitted to the House of Commons by Sir Austen Chamberlain, and so far as it goes it is no doubt quite satisfactory. In Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria the inter-Allied Commission set up under the Treaty of Versailles to limit and control military establishments lias now been withdrawn. The responsible authorities consider that the Commission has accomplished its task “to an adequate extent,” and it is now possible for the League of Nations to take over control and make itself responsible for any subsequent breach of the disarmament regulations. Those who look with anxiety and hope for any positive proof that the chances of a world-war are steadily diminishing will no doubt accept our Foreign Minister’s report thankfully as a favourable sign of the times. And it clearly does indicate a- certain amount of work actually achieved in the cause of yvorld peace. On the other hand, comments a northern writer, we should not ignore the various conditions and reservations by' which Sir Austen Chamberlain’s statement is hedged about. As regards Austria, the inter-Allied Commission’s final report has not yet been presented, becau.se of certain outstarding points regarding the conversion of munition factories to industrial uses, which are still “the subject of negotiations”—ten years after the war. As to Hungary, the Commission is not satisfied about the application of the recruiting laws. As to Bulgarin, the Commission complains of “non-execu-tion of transgression” of the new military laws, and also of the Bulgarian Government’s failure to revise the article of the Constitution which provided for universal military service. And as to Germany, “certain points” in regard to disarmament are left in abeyance which at the date of the Commission’s withdrawal “could not be regarded as having been completely carried out.” The rather diffident and apologetic tono of this last comment should he carefully noted, because it seems to us to strike the keynote of the whole report. It appears on analysis that the work of disarmament which was entrusted to the inter-Allied Commission has been by no means completely accomplished, and it looks very' much as if the League has taken over the functions of the Commission liecause the world at large has got tired of waiting for some practical result from the Commission’s activities. After all the investigation and disputes that have gone on in Germany since 1919 it is a little disconcerting to learn that, though the Commission has been withdrawn. “certain experts” are still attached to the various Allied embassies at Berlin to pursue the apparently interminable task of discussing with the German authorities such matters as the reorganisation of the military establishment—matters on which, as Sir .Austen Chamberlain delicately admits, final agreement has not yet been reached after nine years’ controversy. If the progress made by the inter-Allied Commission with the work of disarmament is to be taken as a gauge, the “will-to-peace’ ’’has not yet manifested itself in any striking form in the exenemv countries.