LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1927, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) GENEVA, .Tulv IT. Mr Gibson opened Ihr proceed ins's of the plenary session by proposing si vote of condolence to the Free State for the assassinat ion of O’Higgins, which Mr Bridgoman and Count Saito supported. White of the Free States eloquently replied. Mr Gibson explained the reason for holding the session was to report progress to date as to the shape of agreements concerning destroyers, submarines and small surface auxiliaries. He admittted there was still serious problems ahead concerning cruisers. Messrs Bridgcman, .Jellicoe, Tsliii. and Gibson addressed the conference with carefully prepared expositions of British, Japanese and American viewpoints. Lord Jellicoe carried the delegates hack to the Great Mar lengthily reviewing the difficulties of chasing German raiders. Isliii reiterates Japan’s consistent unavoidable demand for the greatest possible reduction of auxiliaries even involving considerable Anglo-Jopanese nonreplacements. v GENEVA. July 11.

Count Saito expressed the opinion that one of the best ways of limiting armaments would ho by agreeing on a • drastic reduction in the number of ten thousand ton cruisers. I bus thcic would ten or less each for United States and Britain, seven or less for Japan. Further means would he foi each nation to retain a vessel in excess of the nlloted tonnage or past replacement age, on certain conditions, in order to enable the nation to possess additional ships for special purposes.

Mr Gibson associated America with Mr Bridgeman and Issii in earnestly hoping an acceptable agreement would he reached. “We feel now there is no real obstacle to reaching an early agreement among the three Powers with respect to the Imitation of destroyers and submarines. AVe feel in such close agreement with the Japanese delegation in respect to the total tonnage limitation and type of cruiser that we can easily find a basis of common agreement. A basis can be found which will be mutually acceptable to Japanese and British delegations. f feel' sure it will be possible for the American delegation to reach an agreement with them.”

JELL!COE’S CONTENTION. GENEVA. July 1 I

In his remarks, Lord Jellicoe emphasised that Britain found that 11.4 cruisers were not sufficient for bci in war time, so she was putting her requirements at the lowest possible figure in reducing the number to seventy. Lord Jellicoe cited the operations of the German raiders AVolt and Sea Adler in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and other seas, many thousands of miles from Germany, as showing that the great majority of the British Empire’s lines of communi. cations were open to attack, ire mentioned, as an example of the successful evasion of pursuit by raiders, that the Emden, on the twentieth o October, 1914, when in the vicinity of Ceylon, owing to the slowness of her prizes, passed only from ten to twenty miles astern of two converging Irtish cruisers, which would have caug i her had she been travelling nt her normal speed. The Naval Conference has adjourned.