A Spectator s Notebook
THE Cabinet Committee on Disarmament on Wed- nesday got nearer to definite conclusions, accord- ing to information which I believe to be accurate, than at most previous meetings. It is not the case, as some daily papers suggested, that it merely decided to stand by and watch the progress of the Franco-German con- versations. It is true that the view was taken that the conversations at the moment looked promising and could with advantage continue. But it was also decided, I believe with unanimity, that the charge that Germany is at present rearming is well-founded ; that neither the last German proposals, nor any others involving a definite increase of German armaments can be con- sidered acceptable ; that British policy must be one of disarmament pure and simple within the framework of the League ; that the last French proposals are in the main such as Great Britain could and should support ; and that while the Franco-German conversations should be allowed to go on as long as they show prospect of success, in the event of their breakdown this country should make its own views unmistakably clear. If this represents accurately the trend of the Disarmament Committee's deliberations, as I believe it does, it represents a notable victory of the disarmers over the section which has always been ready to reconcile itself to a considerable measure of German rearmament.
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