ARMAMENTS

Grey River Argus, 2 March 1927, Page 5

ARMAMENTS

BRITISH REPLY. * Fo U.S.A. Invitation. WA«niN(.77< l . l.ruarv 28. Britain has ■< proposal for a liv. Power naval limitation conference. It says: “His Vi jc.sty’s Government . t Gic-m Britain received with cordial -: . : ,ihv the invitation of the Governm nt of the Unit ed States of America to :- k.- part in a conversation at Geneva on the turth.-r limitation of naval armament. Th. views of His Majesty s Government upon the special geographical position of the British Empire, the length id inter-imperial communications, and th. necessity for the protection of its food Supplies, are well known and together with the special conditions and requirements of the other countries invited to participate in the conversation must be taken into account. His Majesty's Government/ nevertheless is prepared to consider to what extent the principles adopted at Washington can be carried further either as regards the ratio of the different classes of ships between the various Powers, or other important ways. They therefore accept the invitation of the Government of the United States of America, and will do their best to further the success of the proposed conversation. They would, how ever, observe that the relationship of such conversation to the proceedings of the Preparatory Commission at Geneva would require careful adjustment.’’ State Department officials, in making public the British Note said the matter of ratios and the relation of the conference to the Preparatory Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations would require adjustment. The ear her rejection ot the plan by France n i l Italy has turned the Administration’s hope to the alternative Coolidge plan for a Tlnee-I’ower pact with B-itain and Japan, and therefore informal negotiations for an agreement on these lines -ire expected to begin soon, though the Washington officials are only mildly optimistic regarding success. LONDON, February 28. In the Commons. Mr. Headlam, in a written answer, said that Britain an 1/11/14 has 112 cruisers, including six Dominion ships: on 1 1/27 she had 48 including four Dominion ships. The other Powers corresp'uiling figures were: United States 3.1-32; I ranee It'aJy 29-11; Japan 34-33. Sir A. Chamberlain, in the Commons, said that tho British reply, accepting Mr. Coolidge’s invitation emphasises the Empire’s special geographical situation nevertheless, Britain will consider the extension of the principles adopted at Washington to the ratio of different classes of ships between the various Powers. All the Dominions concurred in reply, except the Irish Free ._t.it*. which did not reply.

BUTTINSKI BRUCE. FINDS A TORY BACKER. LONDON, March 1. The National Review comments on the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr AlaeKenzie King’s anger towards Mr Bruce (Australian Premier) for the speeches that the latter made on naval defence while he was in Canada. The Review says: “Mr Bruce was within his rights in discussing something of moment to every subject of His Majesty. The fact that Air. Bruce put out of joint the noses of certain “peanut” politicians in and around Ottawa is less a reflection on him than on them. ’ ’ BRITAIN NOT COMMITTED. TO MORE THAN DISCUSSION SHANGHAI, February 28. The authorities at Keinniugfu hay.’ closed the Y.M.C.A. and the Chinese Red Cross Rooms, and have ordered the mission schools not to open so long; as the native schools remain closed. They have also threatened to take over the church mission schools. LONDON, March 1. “The Tinies” in a .ending article, says that the Government is obviously right in accepting President Coolidge’s invitation to a disarmament conference Nevertheless, it says, this can only be a preliminary conference to consider concrete American proposals. America’s problems, it claims are simple as compared with those of the British Empire, and therefore it is obvious tho Empire cannot bind itself. The Government is not, committed to more than to discuse further naval armament restrictions.