An Unhappy Proposal
Some further explanation is needed of the singular ineptitude which led the British member of the Naval Disarmament Sub-committee at Geneva to propose, on Monday, the elimination of the clause in the Draft Con-. vention which prohibits a Power engaged in war from seizing and using warships under construction within its borders for sonic other Power. ThiS merely reproduced the prohibition already embodied in the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, and Sir John Simon six weeks ago stated at Geneva that the British Government desired to let that treaty run to its full term—i.e., till 1936. Admiral Pound's proposal on Monday brought the representatives of all the other signatories of the Washington Treaty— the United States, France, Italy and Japan—imme- diatelyto their feet to protest in surprise and indignation against the motion, which was thereupon promptly dropped. The net result was to create the impression that Great Britain was coming to a Disarmament Con-
ference to seek means of increasing her armed strength instead of diminishing it. Admiral Pound cannot have been acting without instructions, and their origin ought to be investigated.
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