REJECTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 229, 27 September 1928, Page 7

REJECTED.

ANGLO-FRENCH PACT.

America's Decision On Naval Arms Compromise.

NOTES TO POWERS.

(Australian and N. 2. Press Association.)

(Received 10 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, September 2G,

The United Press Association is authoritatively informed that America's replies to Britain and France to the proposed naval arms limitation compromise have been sent to the embassies at London and Paris to-day to be delivered immediately.

Two Notes have been sent. They are not identical but parallel in essentials, and unqualifiedly reject the AngloFrench agreement on the basis of the renewal of the naval arms discussion.

The Notes also explain in detail the American position regarding cruisers and submarines.

The Washington correspondent of the "New York American" says the President, Mr. Coolidge, and the Cabinet, havo agreed to the dispatch of a blunt Note to Britain and France disapproving of the secret Franco-British naval compromise. The Note will promptly be forwarded.

The correspondent says the communication will inform Britain and France that although they ha>;e a right to make any arrangement they'desire the United states will not be a party to it.

The Note will also state that 'the American Gbvemment will not enter into any secret pact for the limitation of naval armaments, and that Britain and France must bring the matter up at public sessions of a preliminary conference on naval armaments before there can be any discussion whatsoever.

Before doing this the United States must have assurances that America's naval requirements will be respected, the Note will say, and that if the other Powers propose to confer on the same basis as that of the futile conference held last year, it will be best for no conference to be held at all.

Not for one moment will the- United States Government entertain any tripartite agreement concluded in secret, such as Britain and France urge.

The generally accepted view, says the correspondent, is that the Note will make it plain that the United States «ees little need of entering upon any discussion on the limitation of naval armaments while the other Powers entertain views so radically opposed to the requirements of the American Navy.

The Note to Britain and France will contain no threat, but it is said at White House that the President is confident that Congress will authorise 15additional 10,000-ton cruisers in the coming session. The fact is also emphasised that the eight American cruisers now under construction will be completed.

ALL RUMOURS UNTRUE

No Agreement Of Any Kind

On Aerial Matters.

FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1 p.m.)

RUGBY, September 26.

"There is no agi-eement or understanding of any kind with France in regard to aerial matters that has not been published, and all rumours to the contrary are entirely untrue."

This categorical denial has been issued by the Foreign Office as a result of the revival of rumours, already denied, of a secret Anglo-French air understanding at the end of last month. Lord Cushendun, Acting-Secretary of State, found it necessary also to refute newspaper statements implying a secret Anglo-French naval agreement.

In explaining the scope of the AngloFrench naval compromise, which has been submitted to the other Powers concerned for their consideration as a basis for discussions at the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament, Lord Cushendun said: "The speculations as to secret clauses and so forth have no foundation whatever. It has been suggested, for instance, that we were going to arrange for the pooling of our Navy with France. There is absolutely nothing in any such suggestion, nor is there anything at all in the shape of an agreed policy between ourselves and the French. It is not a question of policy. That has never been discussed. There are no secret clauses nor any arrangement as to an alliance for the co-operation of our navies."

'DIPLOMATIC BUNGLES ,

Deplorable ' Consequences Of

Navy Compromise.

WILD RUMOURS CURRENT.

(Australian and K.Z. Press association.)

LONDON, September 26,

Tho "Daily Telegraph," in a sensational article, refers to what it terms tho deplorable consequences of the Franco-British compromise. It alludes to the suspicious suggestions current in diplomatic circles throughout Europe which are creating ill-feeling toward Britain.

Tho paper savs it lias been hinted that in return for the concession of the non-limitation of smaller submarines Franco has consented privately not to proceed with her proposal to construct a chain of powerful aerial bases opposite the British coast, with the main base at Cherbourg.

France is further credited with having promised to permit Britain to use her air bases in proximity to the German frontier should Germany ever attack Britain without or before attacking France or Belgium. Therefore, it has been said, a British aerial offensive would best serve to deflect a German air fleet from a massed attack on Londor.

The paper narrates a number of other rumours, and says that whether they be true or without foundation they are all due to the mishandling of British diplomacy, and to incomprehensible bungling in connection with the naval agreement. __