DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1929, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

AMERICA'S NEW POLICY

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegi aph—Copy right).

(Received this day at {). a.in.) GENEVA, April 23

The morning session of the Piniparain ry C.imnissioii transeojidcd all predecessors in imp/rtanee by the fact that Mr Gibson outlined the new policy ol i nited .States. He said United States adhered to tin- view that the .i.illation of naval tonnage by cato_.:>ries was tin- simplest ami fairest way. it,., Imd proved practical and satisfact ry in tin- Washington Treaty which allowed each power to utilise tonnage in accordance with its special needs. However, as Lliat method was unaccept.ibie to others. United States.sought a new method likely to load to u~nnval compromise generally acceptable. Tliore- . re Uni toil States was disposed to accept tin- French proposal. The French idea specified the tonnage for each • lass, with the right of increasing any class by the transfer of tonnage from mother. This allowed greater elasticity in the distribution of tonnage. It ;n list be understood this involved an agreement upon methods alone, not up. n quantitative tonnages or actual percentage to he transferred from one •category to another. Air Gibson said United States would give full friendly consideration to any supplementary methods, the limitation of which he recently discussed with Mr Hoover," who felt nothing would he dfective unless it embraced all classes, including destroyers, cruisers and submi rines. He added that a common sense agreement was what was really wi nted, based on the idea that they wen- going to be friends and settle problems by peaceful means. The rciin tion ol armaments alone would he ineffective unless it preceded a change of attitude in regard to the forceful settlement of disputes and permitting them to dispense with armaments which hitherto seemed essential.

Lord Cusliendun .replying, said lie was in complete agreement with Air Gibson. The limitation statement would ln> more important and would alfect the whole work of the* Commission.

Litvinoff claimed that Gibbon’s Ktatenint enumeraiU'd some of the ■soviet principles, therefore lie was gratified with it. His pessimism was incurable, however, unless concrete proposals were followed. Mr Louden declared the speeches would impart fresh energy to the committee’s work.

General Marinis (Italy) pledged his Government to operate cordially in disarmament.

The session then adjourned