The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1927. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1927. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

, Tiik ton fere me on tho limitation of naval armaments proposed by tho United States has now taken definite shape. France and Italy declined Washington's invitation, hot Britain and Japan accepted, and the conference will 1 he held at Genera without the two minor Powers. It is hoped in Washington, however, that French and Italian refusal will not he absolute, but that these countries will send ‘ *observers” to the conference. Since this has been the method of compromise adopted by the United States in their attitude to more than one European conference, there is something slightly humorous, says an exchange l in this new Washington hope. It is important to note that the conference will he held, not in America, hut in Europe. When the previous conference silt iit Washington there was a natural disposition in the United States to regard is as an American affair, and to give all the credit for the results to the American GoiVrnnient. The proceedings were subject to the strong influence of their American surroundings. The coming conference will lie held in Europe, and in an atmosphere very different from that of Washington. The fact that the meeting will take place at Geneva, the home of the League of Nations, must make some impression on the American mind. The conference wil’ he a meeting between the three leading naval Powers, and attention will he concentrated upon cruiser and submarine programmes. The Washington Agreement limited the number of battleships and the tonnage of cruisers, hut not the number of cruisers, and the Powers disagreed on the limitation of submarine strength. Britain proposer! the abolition of the submarine arm, but France and Italy opposed tliis. Here we see illustrated the effect of special interests on policy. Britain’s chief concern, is the protection of her seaborne trade, which is the greatest in the world, and therefore she feels obliged to keen up a large cruiser force. France bns allowed W navy to fall back in big-ship strength, and she argues that she must depend

up in submarines for ileienee. She always has an eye to the routes between North Africa and the South of Fiance, by which troops would again be poured into France it an attack came ti m across the Rhine. Under .Mussolini, Italy has the ambition to make the .Mediterranean all Italian sea. Ihe conference may be able to achieve .something; on the other hand, it it fails, the situation may be worse than it mis before.