Disarmament Discussion
The Disarmament Conference has had a quiet week, marked chiefly by the endorsement by the smaller Powers of the main theses advanced in the first week, when the Great Powers had their say. The doctrine of the com- plete abolition of distinctively aggressive weapons still holds the field, and is accepted by almost every speaker who takes the platform on behalf of his government. But, as is pointed out on a later page, that principle haS only received a very limited approval at the hands of Great Britain, the United States, France and Japan. It remains to be seen how far those countries can advance beyond their original position. France's political troubles may keep her in the background for a little, but there is nothing to prevent the Conference from starting its com- mittees on steady work in the course of next week. Prediction would be foolish, and all the main difficulties lie ahead. But progress so far has been beyond expecta- tions and any glimmer of light in the present gloom gives some cause for thanksgiving. An endorsement by the British Government of the Italian proposals, or something like them. would give more. The sacrifice of tanks, for example, might be used to gain support for the British proposal to abolish submarines. It is on such bargains that conference agreements arc commonly
based. * * *
