7 JANUARY 1928, Page 15

1 At the present moment, Europe is not quite ready

for disarmament. That is the conclusion I came to, after many talks at Geneva with those well qualified to know. None of these conversations, it is almost needless to say, in any way embody the official views of the League, whose- Secretariat can express' no personal opinions. Still, the Secretariat shOuld know, better than any other body of men, what can and what cannot be done in the cause of peace, and any strong- impression, based as I say on knowledge more intimate and varied than my own, is that we must face the fact frankly that there is much spade work still to be done before Europe will consent to sign away its ridiculous armies and navies.