NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1927, Page 2

NAVAL CONFERENCE

PLENA 115' C<)NFERENCE. (Australirn & N.Z. Cable Association.) GENEVA, Aug. 1. Thera will he no plenary session of the Naval Conference before Thursday, when the leading plenipotentiaries expect the Conference to end, without any result, as there is no likelihood of a last minute compromise. The Japanese are seeking to arrange a compromise, hut, like the British, they view unfavourably America’s political clause, which many observers regard as being a means for reserving for the United States the treodom to construct S inch guns and cruisers, which are the crux of the situation.

Probably the delegates are really considering the best means of closing the Conference and of adjourning the disarmament problem till 1931 when the Washington Treaty will he reviewed.

GENEVA HOPES. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) GENEVA, Aug. 2. The portems are still markedly in the direction of a breakdown of the conference. Count Saito after a meeting with Mr Bridgeman had nothing new to suggest in the way of a solution. The last gleam of hope is Count Saito’s quarter-hour interview this morning with 51 r Gibson, coupled with the changed attitude of the American press. Both British and Japanese camps are suspicious of America’s political’ clause (cabled on July 31st). which is regarded as paving the way to secret competitive building, the very opposite of the whole object of Mr Coolidge’s operations. Both are of the opinion it will inevitably confuse the issues and complicate what might have been an innocuous break uj> of the conference.