Armament > Declaration by Mr. Gibson (United States of America) at the Meeting of June 22nd, 1932

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Official No: COflf. D. 126.
Geneva, June 22nd, 1932.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Conference for the Reduction and Limitation
of Armaments
GENERAL COMMISSION
Declaration by Mr. Gibson (United States of America)
at the Meeting of June 22nd, 1932.
I am desired by the President of the United States to communicate to the Conference the
text of a statement which he is giving out at this moment. It is his hope that the public
statement of such a programme will fire the imagination of the world and lead all nations to
consider deeply and state openly how much they can contribute to a great general programme.
Statement of the Instructions issued by President Hoover to the American Delegation to
the Conference for the Limitation and Reduction of Armaments, read by Ambassador Gibson
before the General Commission, Wednesday, June 22nd, 1932, 4.30 p.m.
The delegations at the World Conference on Disarmament at Geneva are now engaged in
discussions as to methods by which more comprehensive efforts can be made toward disar¬
mament.
The following is the substance of instructions which have been given by the President
to the American delegation for guidance in the discussions which are now occupying them.
They are published in order that the American people may be fully and accurately informed.
“ The time has come when we should cut through the brush and adopt some broad and
definite method of reducing the overwhelming burden of armament which now lies upon the
toilers of the world.. This would be the most important world step that could be taken to
expedite economic recovery. We must make headway against the mutual fear and friction
arising out of war armament which kill human confidence throughout the world. We can still
remain practical in maintaining an adequate self-defence among all nations. We can add to
the assurances of peace and yet save the people of the world from ten to fifteen billions of
wasted dollars during the next ten years.
“ I propose that the following principles should be our guide.
. " First : The Briand-Kellogg Pact to which we are all signatories can only mean that the
nations of the world have agreed that they will use their arms solely for defence.
“ Second 1 This reduction should be carried out not only by broad general cuts in arma¬
ments but by increasing the comparative power defence through decreases in the power of
the attack.
Series of League of Nations Publications
IX. DISARMAMENT
1932. IX. 49.
S. d. N. 3.180 (F.) 2.475 (A.) 6/32 Imp. du J. de G,