Minister Ramsay MacDonald (Great Britain) Premier Andre Tardieu (France) and Chancellor Heinrich Bruening (Germany) spent most of the morning ina series of conferences in which they sought some hat would lead the way passe for which the n_of the Disarmament Conference met 110.10 o'clock to continue debate the joint Italian-American plan, under which certain specified classes lof aggressive weapons would be abolished by an international con vention, and the resolution approv-jing this method which was introduced yesterday by Sir John Simon, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir George Perley, of Canada, was the first speaker, heartily sup-jerting the Simon resolution. 'The Italian-American plan found another champion in M. Colban, of Norway. Following these two speeches in favour of the Simon resolution, it Was subjected to a bitter attack'
Paul Boncour of the Frenc delegation, who declared that France jeculd not accept the Italian-American plan in its present form cause it would abolish weapons which the French plan would place Jat the service of a League army.
Boncour urged that an inter-ational army, controlled by the League and armed with the wea Pons which the Italian-American plan would abolish, would constitute the greatest assurance of world peace and world security.
'The French demand agreements be base; that any ily upon the question of na security, which brough Pre-Tardieu' hurrying "back to jgneva from Paris when the rench Government" saw them threatened by the Italian-American plan, were brilliantly defended by Boncour. M, Boncour intimated that France would never accept the abolition or reduction of any class of arms until the General Commis. sion had either de cepted or rejected the French plan to put teeth in the League through the international Ambassador Liu, of the Chi legation, asked ' that the ference work to achieve a reduction to. the lowest, possible minimum, varying for different countries in Accordance with geographical. position and other criteria, He called attention to the Chinese memorandum, emphasising that the presence of unfriendly neighbour would enable 'a low level of armament, while ing of insecurity would' necessitate a higher level. can see no end to the Conference, nor any beginning to disarmament if we insist upon bargain. dag in terms of security," interjected "Phe Russian Foreign Minister predicted that the Conference will fail unless it adopts the Soviet proposal for automatic proportional Apr. 19.
A resolution was passed by the Disarmament Committee to-day Which is acclaimed as the first success of the Disarmament Conference, The. resolution modifies Article of the Draft Convention and declares that the reduction of armanents, provided by Article VILL of the League Covenant, can be achiev; ed progressively by successive revi Sions when the present conference accomplished the first stage of genal reduction toa minimum lew.
Berlin, Apr. 20.
Great importance was attached here by the proes to-day to what is yolerred to the. "informal German - Amerizan "disarmament conference," an exchange of, views Between the German and the Anerit gin legations "ating place at th latter's headquarters and attende Stimson, American, Secret?
Bruening.
"Tu the course of these conversa
an. exhaustive interpretation. tions, the German Chancellor gave of Germany's claims regarding' di armament and security and lared that the American delegate Brusning's views. Furthermore, it favourably impressed by Dr. army.
In view of the French attitude, it is believed that the Conference may be forced to take up. the French plan without voting on the imon_ resolution, although it is predicted that the Paris, proposals Following M. Boncour, Mr. Gibson down to certain defeat.
made a vigorous defense of the American plan. He was particularly} insistent. upon the immediate ab-clition of heavy mobile artillery and tanks. am glad that there is a general agreement at, to our purpose," Mr. Gibson said, "but regret that we are not agreed, on. method.'—Answering French objections that the pian does not consider air or naval armaments, Mx, Gibson said: "We have already} imited our navy. That's why we sted this plan for reduction of and armaments, which entails sacrifices for the United States.
Great Britain then began marshaling forces in favour of the Simon resolution, Mr, Patrick of Treland, Mz, Charles. Theoporete Water of the Union of South Africa,. and H. A. the Aga Khan, great Moslem leader, all spoke favourably, follow-fed by the Australian and Portugese France's objections." In "a" short pan however, supper
beech Ambassador " Sato declared lat there were inherent difficulties in determining whether weapons were offensive or defensive. "We are sure there would be diversity fof opinion in the choice of weapons to be prohibited," he said.
Mr, Liu, the Chinese ambassador to, Berlin, supported the Simon reneed hardly tell you that dur-jing recent months aggressive wea-ons of every kind have assumed a. terrible meaning to my countrymen," Ambassador Liu said. "We favour the abolition of all aggressive arms." After Baron Ramel of Sweden had voiced his country's support of the JSimon resolution, Signor Motto pleaded eloquently' for a unanimous favourable vote, declaring that the resolution did not prejudice the French plan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.