DISARMAMENT REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2487, 30 September 1922, Page 1

DISARMAMENT REPORT.

POWER WANTED FOR LEAGUE. GENEVA, Sept. 20. Lord It. Cecil, in a two hours’ speech, in presenting the disarmament report, urged all Governments to reduce their armaments. He predicted a terrible catastrophe lor the States failing to inspire pacific principles. He thought that power should be given to the League to create an international air force. Aviation to-day was 100 per cent, superior to the old forces. Its possibilities grew wider daily. The League with a sufficient air force could restore peace should any nation break it. Lord Robert Cecil's speech was most impressive. He said the League’s statistics showed- that only a fraction of men was required to maintain internal order in tho various States, whereas millions, costing hundreds of millions sterling, were required to resist aggression. ‘‘This is the price of international suspicion. This is the great obstacle to disarmament, which the resolutions seek to remove by substituting a general reduction oi armaments and a mutual guarantee of safety.” Signor Seialoja (Italy) said the chief value of the proposals was that they did not attempt too much. M. Jouvenal (France) urged that the resolutions were practicable and advocated beginning with limited guarantees, because a general guarantee might be indefinitely delayed. -VI. Hayashi pledged Japan’s support for the proposals. Hon. A. H. L. Fisher, similarly on behall ol Britain, said that in carrying out the League’s proposals Britain would be influenced by the number of States participating in the reductions and guarantees. He hoped to see the Washington Treaty extended to the non-signatory Powers within a year.— A. and N.Z. cable.