THE NAVY QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 1

THE NAVY QUESTION

U.S.. ATTITUDE. (United Press Association!—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). , NEW Y( )R K, September 25. The “New York American’s ” Washingtim correspondent states that President Coolidge and the U.S.A. Cabinet have approved of a blunt note of disapproval of the secret Eruneo-British naval agreement. The \ Note will promptly be forwarded to France and Britain, advising them that while they have the right to make any arrangement they 'desire, the United States will not b'e a party to it. The Note also states: “ This Government will not enter into any secret pact tor the limitation of naval armaments. Other affirmations in the Note are:— That the British and the French must enter into the public sessions of a preliminary conference on naval armaments before there can lie any discussion whatsoever. That before doing this, the United States must have the assurances -that the American naval requirements will be respected. That if Powers propose to outer n conference, on the same lqisis as the futile one held last year, it is best that no conference should he held at all. That the United States will not, for one moment, entertain any tripartite agreement reached secretly, such as the British and French urge. ' It is generally accepted that the note makes it plain that the United States sees little need of entering into any new discussions for the limitation of naval armaments while other Powers entertain views so radically opposed to the requirements of the American Navy. > At the same time, the Note declares that the requirements were set forth m the American programme at Geneva last year, and that these requirements are still the minimum American, requirements. The Note says that the United States 's willing to lay those requirements on :he table before an open session of a Preparatory or a Preliminary Armaments Conference. , *

White House also lets if be known that the President is annoyed at the propaganda appearing in the European oress designed to draw the United States into a three-nation pact. AY hi I© the Note carries no threat, it is said at White House that President

Coolidge is confident that Congress will authorise fifteen additional ten thousand ton cruisers at its earning session. White House also emphasises that the eight American cruisers now under construction will he completed. WARNING TO ANGLO-FRENCH. LONDON, September 26. Interviewed by the “ Daily News,” before departing for America, Mr T. A. Britten, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs in the United States House of' Representatives, said: “This so-called Anglo-French compromise will go a long way towards destroying world confidence in European statesmanship. 1 cannot understand >vh,v Britain anil France sjiould treat America other than as a true fiicnd. Secret diplomacy to hurt and underline American friendship would positively weaken tue'British and French financial influence throughout the world. Our future relations with Briaiu and France depend upon whether they are prepared to put all their •arils cm the table face uppermost.

A PRESS COMMENT. LONDON. September 26. Tho “ Daily Telegraph.” in a sensnionnl article, reverts to the deplorable 'onseq lienees of the Franco-British ornpromise. it alludes to the sus--iciovis suggestions current in diplomatic circle throughout Europe, creatii o- ill-feeling towards Britain.” H ;avs it has been hinted that France, in •.etum for concessions as to the nonimitation of her smaller submarines, has consented privately not to proceed with her programme of construction ol iv chain, of powerful aerial bases opposite to the British coast, with the main base at Cherbourg. France, it says, is further credited' with a promise to permit Britain to use her air. bases in proximity to Germany’s frontier, should Germany ever attack Britain with out, before, attacking France or Belgium. Thus a British aerial offensive vould best serve to deflect the German Air Fleet from a mass attack on London.

Tho “ Telegraph ” says there is also talk of mi alleged diplomatic bargain, under which France will abandon her policy of rapproaeheinent with the Soviet, and Britain will support the French policy of a ' Serbo-Bulgarian rapproaclieincut in the Balkans. The “Daily Telegraph” narrates a number of other rumours, and declares that, whether they ho true or without foundation, they are all due to the mishandling of British diplomacy and to incomprehensible bungling in connection with the naval agreement.

U.S. REPLY. R ELECTS ANGLO-FR HN( TI WASH INCTON, September 27. It i.s authoritatively slated that flu

United States in reply to Britain and France, will be sent to the embassies in London and Paris to-day, to be delivered immediately. The two' notes are not identical, but are parallel in essentials. They unqualifiedly reject the Anglo-French agreement on the basis of renewal of naval arms discussion and explain in detail the American position regarding cruisers and submarines.