NAVAL TREATY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20179, 6 March 1931, Page 11

NAVAL TREATY.

U.S.A. NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED. EXPRESSION OP SATISFACTION. (01UT8B ERBBS . ASSQCUTIQK— Br * METRIC (Received March sth, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 4. The Secretary of State, Mr H. L. Stimson, in. expressing satisfaction with the Franco-Italian naval agreejneiit;, said that it would make a resort to tho "escalator" clause unnecessary. Ho added that ho was satisfied that tho agreement contained po provisions which vitally affected tho United States directly, and required no changes in the treaty, it merely taking the form of a, separate arrangement in which the United States and Japan would only tako notice of the changes. Thero would probably bp no occasion for the submission of tho document to tho Senate.

FRANCO.ITALIAN AGREEMENT DISCUSSED. (BRITISH OITJCJAI. V'lflSLpSS.) 11UGBY, March 4In the House of Commons Mr Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary), referring to the naval agreement, said, subject to the concurrence by tha other sigpatpries of the London Treaty, fi solution has been found for the problems Ipit outstanding by the London Conference. The serious dim-" culties long preventing on agreement had been overcame pnly by tho keep desire of both Paris and Ropja fpr an agreement., , , He emphasised that whatever actiuy limitations were imposed the outstanding featuro was political, and tho' fact of an agreement would increase the feelings of friendship and cooperation between all the (signatories qf the London Treaty. , . Mr A• V; Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty), replying tp a, question,, said tliH Goyerpwent's naval policy had beun based on the hope of such {in agrpepif-nt, and B''>tnin's rpplapcniont. programme, ylnzh WHS within thf! limits of the treaty, would in w> >va.y prejudice tho causo of . disarmament ; thft forthcoming conference.

CONGRATULATIONS ~ i WASHINGTON, March 4. President Hoover has issued a statement . congratulating thq participants in th(i yranco-Italian naval settlement. "I feel the, responsible heads of t|je QpvernwSfttS ani| peoples of tho world wo a debt of gratitude for tlwv Infinite patience and ability pf all who oollftbawcd sp effectively towards reafthicg a settlement," he said.