NAVAL PARITY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1929, Page 5

NAVAL PARITY

INVITATIONS ISSUED. (United Prase Association—By Electric ivvtgcuyti —C-opyrigni/). LONDON, Sept. 18. ' The British and American Governments have invited the Governments of France, Italy, and Japan to participate in a Five-Power Naval Disarmament Donterenue at London in tlie Wild week in January. The accompanying note says that the Britishand American Governments will submit their preliminary proposals to the full conference. It also emphasises that a favourable result wiii not ,be obtainable without France’s, Italy’s and Japan’s full sympathetic co-operations, especially on the question of the limiting of tonnage of destroyers and submarines. Meanwhile, according to Paris news, the prospect of . a new Naval Conference is viewed with misgivings by those, responsible for the French naval policy, who clearly would prefer to remain aloof, especially as it involves the delicate question of French relations with Italy, ’/here is an ever-present apprehension that any Anglo-American agreement, with Japan proportionately acquiescent, will be at the expense of French security forcing the French Navy unto a position something approaching a parity with Italy, whose problems of defence are totally different. The French scheme of defence is based on geographical position, involving sea connections with both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, with strategical problems, including, besides coast defence, protection of sea communications between Marseilles and Algiers, and between Brest and Dakar. It is argued that if France is placed oil an equality with Italy, it will mean only sufficient light sea ,forces will be available for the defence of one or other of these routes, and not both, thus implying a weakening of France s Mediterranean position, and a corresponding increase in Italy’s influence.

NAVAL CONFERENCE. AMERICAN VIEWS. ' (Received this day at 10 a.nO 'WASHINGTON, September 18. Invitations to the Five Power Naval Conference to be held late in January will be issued by' the Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonaiu, in the near future but the exact' time remains to be. determined; ■ /’ Although* failing to realise the maximum of hopes he entertained at the outset' 1 of * Anglo-American negotiations Mr Hoover is believed to be well satisfied with the progress made towards, further limitations of naval armaments. If.gri agreement in principle is reached between: United States, .and Britain it will be ratified by the other three.major powers. through the. limitation, programme for them, consonant with An-glo-American reductions; The belief here is' that: a. much more , substantial reduction will be possible at the expiration of the Washington Treaty in 1936. . By that time the navies of the world would have become stabilised under such an agreement as might be worked out at: the projected January conference, and it would be possible to survey all categories of ships with a view ito. further limitations in each. Administration officials claim that an Anglo-American agreement in principle would end; the competition which of itself would result in smaller cruiser fleets and a; great saving to Britain and United- States. ,

’ QUESTION OF INVITATIONS , WASHINGTON, September 18. ' It was learned authoritatively to-dav that there would be no joint invitations, issued on behalf df Britain and United States. Mr Stimsoq said despatches emanating from London that Mr MacDonald had already sent invitations through British' embassies at Tokio, Paris, and Borne, were without authorisation and were entirely inaccurate. Invitations from the British Government will go to United States, Japan, France, and Italy. •*.•> . v. ■ With , all five expected to participate in the conference which it is now proposed to hold in London, considerable preparatory work must be done before the invitations are sent forward through the British embassies. May, be that action will be deferred until after Mr MacDonald has conferred with Mr Hoover at Washington on points' still in controversy between the United States and Britain, on the cruiser question. ■