NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1927, Page 2

NAVAL CONFERENCE

TIIE NAVY ISSUE. (Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.) GENEVA, July 12. Naval exports spent tbe day examining the new offers, and they (lid not hesitate to-night to intimate that they had progressed sufficiently to report real progress to the heads of tlie delegations. There are likely hopes that, within a few days, a useful settlement may he announced. The American and Japanese quarters are inclined to view Mr AY -C. Bridgman (lender of the British delegation) as being over-optimistic in his opinion that the Conference will he ready for a plenary session within a couple of days.

Air Bridgman hinted yesterday that the tripartite character of the Conference was a stumbling block, saying that several times, on smaller matters, a two-Power agreement was reached, only to fail because of the 11011-acquies-cence of the third party. It is understood that something of this nature occurred in reference to the cruisers. The American circles admit that Britain and the United States were almost within sight of an agreement upon a total cruiser tonnage hut Japan was not inclined to accept the Anglo-Ameri-can figure, still preferring a lower total for the cruisers and destroyers, which may lie submitted on Friday.

It is reported that the basis oi the prospective Anglo-American accord is the (imitation of both navies to twelve largo cruisers of the ” Australia ” and “ Canberra ’’ type, these accounting for a total tonnage of 120.000,' with a maximum of another 330.000 tons devoted to smaller cruisers, of probably below 7300 tons each, as advocated In Britain's original scheme. NEW YORK. July 12.

The New York “Times ” AYashington correspondent stales: AVith. the positions of Britain and the United States on the cruiser issue at Geneva far from reconciled the attitude of Japan has assumed a major importance, under circumstances that may exercise a final influence upon the success or failure of the limitation effort. It has become known that the Japanese delegation is ready to return to Tokio without any agreement, rather than see any agreement that would require a large naval construction expenditure on her part, and that Japan s position is practically rigid for a maximum limitation of lot), 000 tons tor both cruisers and destroyers combined for the United States and tor Britain. Mr Kellogg (United Stales Secretary) has made it dear that the l 11 it oil States does not care to accept Britain's latest cruiser suggestion, as cabled on July 9t!i.

The United States Secretary has also challenged the contention that there would he any economy in the lengthening of the life of the battleships, or in reducing their size, until a further conference is held in 1931.

Air Kellogg, furthermore, does not favour a limit of ten to thirteen cruiser of the ten-tliousaiul-ton class. Sir Austell Chamberlain's statement concerning Anglo-Ameriean friendship lias been conliali'y received here, anil it forms the basis of strong hopes that the Conference will accomplish its purposes.