DISARMAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1927, Page 3

DISARMAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

LONDON, Juno 29. Messrs Oil-son and Jones corroborated the Dominion representatives, who declared conversations on the major question were marked by most friendly spirits. Jones explained that America’s present preponderance in destroyers was due to feverish war time building, at the behest of the Allies, to counter U-boats. He called attention to conflicting figures of the cruiser strength. As an instance, Field last week stated the Japanese proposal gave Britain sixty-two, American 15 and Japan 29. This was based on Japan’s proposed age limit, but the disparity was less marked if it included the older ships. Experts concerned say it is not a, quantitive limitation, l>ut a common basis from which to embark on limitation. Everybody is mystified hv the nature of the new Japanese instructions, but generally it is accepted that the question of capital ships will not arise till an agreement on the smaller types is reached.

GENEVA CANARDS. LONDON, June 29. News from Geneva states in the absence of an authorative announcement of any agreement, foreign jourdulging in the wildest guessing. The latest canard is that Japan is bargaining to support Britain’s capital

ships policy, provided Japan is allowed to raise the question of Singapore base. There is the fullest justification for saying that Japan has not the slightest intention of directly raising the Singapore question though perhaps the motion thereof will inevitably crop up, When America claims tho equality of Britain’s cruisers, on the ground that she needs more because she does not possess a chain of bases like Britain, including Singapore. The technical committee today exchanged views of destroyers, on which seemingly there is a considerable measure of agreement.