Armament > Memorandum on the proposals of the Swedish delegation (Conf.D.83)

ln. jy .3--{2/)
Official No.: Conf. D. 110.
Geneva, April 12th, 1932.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Conference for the Reduction and Limitation
of Armaments
MEMORANDUM ON THE PROPOSALS OF THE SWEDISH DELEGATION
(Conf. D. 83)
Following the suggestions made on March 16th last by the President of the Conference
for the Limitation and Reduction of Armaments, the Swedish delegation has drawn up
explanations of certain of the proposals submitted by it to the Conference on February 19th
last. These explanations are reproduced below in the same order as the various points
enumerated in the Swedish proposal distributed to the Conference as document Conf.D.83.
Point 2 [a). Throughout the preparatory work for the Disarmament Conference, the
Swedish Government constantly upheld the thesis that the limitation of effectives should
be such as to apply also to trained reserves. The Swedish delegation remains faithful to this
principle ; for it is convinced that trained reserves are too essential an element of armaments
to be left outside the scope of an effective disarmament convention.
With regard to the means of effecting such a limitation of trained reserves, the delegation
has considered in the first place the idea of a quantitative limitation of personnel undergoing
military training in time of peace—i.e., a limitation of the annual contingent. This would of
course have the effect of limiting trained reserves.
The delegation has also studied another method which seems likely to be of considerable
value. This method is based on the idea that, if the period of service of part of the annual
contingent is limited, there will be in consequence a reduction in the number of men who can
be drafted immediately, on the outbreak of war, into the units assigned to aggressive operations.
It would seem that such a limitation could readily take its place among the principles on which
the first part of the Draft Convention is based. For instance, a separate column in Table I
of Chapter A might lay down maximum figures for the average daily effectives of men under¬
going training for more than six months. The number of conscripts undergoing training for
longer periods should consequently not exceed the figure shown in that column for each country.
On the same lines, this principle, if accepted by the Conference, should perhaps also be
expressed by the insertion of a supplementary provision in Chapter B of the Draft Convention
(“ period of service ”).
Point 2 (b). In the opinion of the Swedish delegation, no effective limitation or reduction
of land material can be secured without the application of the direct method supplemented
by the budgetary method. Accordingly, the delegation proposes that Article 10 of the Draft
Convention should be supplemented by clauses providing for the direct limitation of certain
main categories of arms, such as {a) rifles and carbines ; (6) automatic rifles and machine-
guns ; (c) guns and howitzers ; (d) mortars and mine-throwers. The delegation does not for
the moment wish to submit detailed proposals in this connection, but it requests the Conference
to consider the explanations given above and the annex attached as suggestions for its
future deliberations.
Point 2 (c). The delegation is happy to note that a considerable number of delegations
have proposed the complete abolition of tanks and mobile heavy artillery. With regard to
this latter class of armament, the delegation is inclined to advocate a limit of 16 cm. for the
calibre and 4 tons for the weight of guns and howitzers, except those which form part of the
fixed armament of fortifications.
S. d. N. 3.330 (F.). 2.475 (A.). 4/32. Imp. du J. de G.
Series of League of Nations Publications
IX DISARMAMENT
1932. IX. 37.