LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1927, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

SIR J. t’AUU’S VIEWS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July ID.

Empire interests are .sullering as a result of secret meetings which only give an opportunity for unscrupulous •odious of the foreign press to misre-' present, our proposals and invent the most grotesque fables. I hope future meetings will he open to the press. This is the only way to arrest a mendacious campaign, declared Sir J. Lari’, oil arrival last night from Geneva. He added : “The only cure for the raider is the cruiser. Britain's claim to seventy cruisers is reasonable to intelligent Chilian New Zealanders and Australians. With twelve thousand miles of trad" route to protect they support Britain's measures to keep ocean highways clear. Jl the Conference breaks down it will he because the nations de-c-line to recognise fails about our far Hung Empire.

(IRJTAi.VS ATTITUDE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) geneva, juiy i). Rritam will not give way to pressure or model her navy to suit American ideas, virtually declared Mr liridgcman. who recalled America’s insistence at the Washington Conference that iorced liritain to build ten thousand ton cruisers which she did nit want. Nevertheless Mr liridgeniau is most confident that some result- will be achieved here.

The executive adopted the technicans report setting out points of agreement, hut disagree in connection with vital questions of tonnage, size and guns of cruisers and simili’ submarines and the whole question of ratios and re-opening of the capital ships problem. The executive decided to convoke a plenary session on Monday, when the fate of the conference will he decided.

CONFERENCE HOPES. GENEVA, Julv 10.

If heed were given lo smoke room gossip, the Conference is doomed to failure, hut Geneva is so notorious for taradiddles that; it is foolish yet to prophesy the absolute breakdown.

The executive committee in the forenoon briskly rcdiscussed the cruiser difficulty, a communique setting out three viewpoints of capital ships and then adjourned to a date not lixed. The week-end is devoted to private conversations on cruisers and preparations for Monday’s plenary session. Nothing has yet happened to bring within sight an acceptable cruiser coinpromise. The delegations opinions aie still’ far apart and apparently irreconcilable, hut it is learned definitely from delegates present at the morning's meeting that nobody is preparing for the actual abandonment of the conference.

Mr Gibson after the meeting said : 1 refuse to he discouraged. We at present are no nearer a solution ie.:t all sincerely want naval limitation and believe we will eventually find a nay cut We are determined to keen mtrying till we do. British eiroi'es to-day point out the new Japanese proposals are not accept able, chiefly hecau.se it is based on Japan’s shortage limit of warships, which throws an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. The application of tHo British ago limits to Japanese figures gives a total tonnage not- lar short <J Britain’s own proposals. LONDON, July Iff. The “ Observer's ” diplomatic correspondent hints 11 10 Genova impasse may be ended by nil agreement to b - ide cruisers into two classes, oflensr/e and defensive, in order to meet Jritain’s special needs for protection r.i trade routes.

(Received this.day at 10.25 a.m.) NEW YORK. July 9

As concerns editorial opinion, the “Chicago Tribune” says:—"Any concrete benefits to he expected from the conference in respect to expenditure and stable relations seem at this stage doubtful, but there is a very real danger that the conference will have the deplorable consequence of increasing international irritation and distrust. The leader then bitterly attacks the British point of view. The New Volk “Times” is one of the few newspapers which strongly support the British contention. ft stresses that American delegates have swung from economy to parity in naval strength, and adds that the purpose of the confereitee was to secure economy. It points out that British proposals mean, the saving of 150 million sterling to the Powers concerned, and expresses a fear that the rush for parity will prove expeu-