LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1932, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

ARMS DISCUSSED CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AGREED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 22.. During the discussion by the General Commission of the disarmament Conference at Geneva of the draft resoluI tfen on which the Conference is to adjourn,- the German delegate, Herr . .uuoiny, read a declaration that Germany could not promise to participate in tho second phase of tile Conference, unless during the recess her. demand for eqaiality of rights in armaments was settled in negotiations between, the interested Governments. 1 The declaration added that the .Conference proceedings, and notably the conversations during the last few days,, had given the impression that .the necessary condition of equality had not, yet been understood or admitted by ; all the Governments. The German Government’s collaboration was not possible unless thb future work of tho Conference was developed upon the basis of, clear-cut recognition of equality of rights among the nations.

In earlier, proceedings a section of the resolution proposing the limitation of the unit tonnage of tanks was pass, od, tho section dealing with the abolition of gas find bacteriological warfare was agreed to and the section providing’ for the establishing of a perinahT out Disarmament Commission was also adopted.

Speaking on the proposal' for a reduction of armaments expenditure, Sir Herbert Samuel made a. strong plea for such a. reduction, and added that between 1925 and-1930 Britain had reduced her expenditure on armafiifehts by 15 per cent. Her total reduction’ during the past ten years had amouirfe ed to 20 peP cent. It was essential that the Conference should not.ignore the. reductions already made when recommending further budgetary limitations. , . '. / '

This section of? the resolution ■ 'was adopted. ./ Sir John jSimon made ,an Earnest appeal to the; delegate's to voteyfor the resolution by -an overwhelming majority- * ' : :utA