ARMAMENT LIMITS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1932, Page 6

ARMAMENT LIMITS

FOR LAND AND AIR. AGREEMENT AT GENEVA. (British Official Wireless':) ' RUGBY, July 20. U An agreement was reached to-day at Geneva, between delegates of the Dia- ' aimainen’o Conference, of Britain, ' United States, and Italy, set- ’. tling the principle of the \ ylimrutidn jof land artill'ery. This was the , lasV outstanding point for incorporation in ' toe draft resolution prepared by Sir ■' J. Simon and Doctor Benes surveyirig j the agreements reached during; the ' first stage of ’the conference. 1 The resolution recording tlie agreement wtis submitted to the meeting of the General of the Oonfer--1 ence this afternoon by Dr Benes, in j.’lie absence of Sir J. Simon, who returned to London. The terms of the resolution survey ' the agreements made for limitation of land, naval and air armaments. Regarding heavy land artill'ery the agreements accept the principle that it should be limited as to calibre in I accordance with the convention to be considered later. The agreement provides maximum limits for coastal guns, fortress guns, and mobile land

guns. Regarding air disarmaments the agreement provides for the absolute prohibition of. air attacks against civil populations, and for an agreement, as between themselves, as the contractingparties . for the abolition of air bombardment. The latter provision is-sub-ject to agreement regarding the measures to be adopted for securing the observance of thq rlule. These measures will include .'the limitation of numbers and restriction of the characteristics' of military aircraft, and mobilisation and other measures affecting civil aircraft to prevent their being misused. / Regarding armament outlays, the resolution provides for the. Budgetary Committee to continue fits sudies on the limitation of armaments expenditure; and the Standing Committee of the Conference will .draft • proposals based upon its' report - . Another special committee set up under the re sol iw tion wflU submit proposals regarding the manufacture and trade in implements of war. Chemical; bacteriological and incendiary warfare are prohibited. Regarding the strict limitrt’on and reducton of all effectives, the Stand-" ing Order Committee is asked to examine and report'on Mr Hoover’s pro posais, consideration being given to reouiremfents of national defences. Regarding naval disarmaments, the parties to the naval treaties of Washington and London are to confer and report to the Generali Commission \f work by the conference uvs .to ihe furthem measures feasible as part of the general disarmament programme.