These proposals have the great merit of trying to -bring
under the 'control of the League the most deadly weapons of attack, but, as we write in a leading article, -they imply a great deal to which they make no open. reference. The creation of an armed super-state is contrary to the :whole intention expressed in the Covenant of the League, which would have to be recast ; it also involves for the nations a long step further than they have already consented to go in abandoning their inde- pendent sovereignty. Those are corollaries to her 213 proposals which we cannot think that France is at present willing to see adopted by the world. More serious attention is merited by the proposals of His Majesty'S Government. Sir" John Simon put them before the Conference on Monday in an, excellent speech. They 'hark back to the old Peace Conferences at The Hague., in the restriction of war by abolishing the use of gas, chemicals and submarines. They wisely accept the difficulties in the' Way of abolishing conscription, which is to some countries as much a political as a military measure. With the Main proposals we entirely agree, because Great Britain accepts and desires to see used now as the basis of discussion in the Conference the Draft Disarmament Convention, in which are laboriously worked out agreed methods of limiting men and arms, and the form of a Permanent Disarmament Commission.
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