Armament > Memorandum relating to the proposals of the Turkish delegation (Cong. D. 78)

2
Land Armed Forces.
Method of Execution.
States with an army the strength of which exceeds the figure y fixed by the Conference
will proceed to reduce their forces, from the level given in the declaration made to the League
of Nations in 1931, by means of the formula given below :
* = effectives declared to the League of Nations in 1931.
y - - level of forces fixed by the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of
Armaments.
z = number of years over which the gradual reduction will be spread.
n = percentage of annual reduction.
or in other words :
s
n (x — y)
100
s = exact reduction to be made yearly by each State.
The result of this system would be a gradual, not destructive and hardly noticeable,
reduction by which, after a fixed period, all the forces of the world would be reduced to a
common level.
A not less appreciable advantage of this solution would be that the offensive power of
large armies would be decreased more and more each year without the defensive potentialities
of the smaller armies being too greatly affected.
Sea Armed Forces.
I he Turkish delegation has proposed a scheme for the complete equalisation of forces,
but is nevertheless ready to admit that naval forces, which are considerable only in a very
small number of States, should be equalised more slowly by providing for a first stage of
equalisation in two or three parts, absolute equality being reached after a certain period.
Ihis delegation is, in fact, of opinion that naval forces, which safeguard free communication
between different nations with common interests, and which, by themselves, have not the
opportunities for attacking which land armies clearly have, may be reduced less rapidly and
in two or three stages, as required, of r tons each, forces below the lowest level not being
liable to reduction. '
This less radical proposal is, moreover, only put forward as a compromise, for the Turkish
delegation is, above all, in favour of complete equalisation of all forces.
Air Forces.
The fuikish delegation has proposed the complete abolition of air forces. If this proposal
is accepted by the Conference, such aeroplanes as are capable of transformation into commercial
01 sporting machines should be so converted and the others destroyed ; moreover, there must
be leliable guarantees that the transformation and the destruction are, in fact, carried out.
Reserves.
While each State is left entirely free to organise the recruiting and training systems of
its army as it thinks fit, the Turkish delegation considers that, with a view to attaining effective
equalisation and reduction, all States must accept a system of standardisation of the period
of service, the annual reserves called up and the maximum numbers for officers and N.C.O s
In the same way, the manufacture of war materials should be unified under conditions
which are stated below.
Material.
. +,rhe Turkish delegation has proposed the complete abolition of tanks and heavy artillery.
As the tanks and guns cannot be used for other purposes, their destruction and that of all
the material connected with them must be completely carried out under the fullest guarantees.
Manufacture.
The effective reduction of forces and their equalisation can only be ensured by the
internationalisation of armament manufacture. Manufacture by the State or by private
1 ms and free 01 even limited sale of war material automatically lead to an increase of forces.