The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1929. AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1929. AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

The Pi into Minister: of Great Er’tam hns now set' oat on his important mission to the •’United States, to discuss with tile President and his advisers all that is involved in the great international problem of disarmament. There appears to "he some prospect of an agreement being reached, Mr MacDona ;d being evidently predisposed to go as far as possible towards the desired resnit. AYhat does appear probable is that the conversations will assist materially to clear the air, and should result in a better understanding between the two countries. There has been hitherto some misunderstanding, if not mistrust, and the visit anj interviews at a round-thc-tablo talk should assist to’ create a fresh atmosphere altogether! According to a semiofficial statement which is-regarded as auLiioriti’yeJ the' margin of difference between' Britain and the United States iii respect to naval requirements is now extremely narrow. Apparently some surprise lias been created in expert circles by a sudden rise in American claims as regards the number of cruisers and total tonnage dining the past week. But it is now believed that the only obstacle to a final settlement is that the Americans want three more 10,COO ton cruisers than Britain thinks they require, and that .Britain considers that the American aggregate is too great by 15,000 tons. If these are the only serious discrepancies betw.-en the two programmes Mr MacDonald may well fell optimistic about the probable outcome of his visit to Washington. It must be understool, however, that any agreement , on these points could only be regarded a- a preliminary step toward an iivtcrnutiona! understanding on the question of naval disarmament on a more comprehensive scale. Accordingly, the Governments of Britain and'the United States have issued invitations-to France, Italy and Japan to lake part in a Five Power Xavai Conference to be he'd in London in January next. . The agreement between Britain and the United States will, of course, be submitted to the Confeiencc. but naturally it is to be accepted only as provisional, and Subject to modification in accordance with the claims put forward by other Powers. In England this close approximation of the British and Amei'i,cnn viewpoints in regard to naval disarmament has been heartily welcomed. But wo must not rashly assume, says •the Auckland “ Star,” that the coming Five-Power Conference will necessarily accept the A ligio-A me,i ica n solution of this complicated problem Different States look at the question from different angles, and France in

particular is extremely dubious about the Conference and the developments that it may involve. In the first place, the French are always suspicious of any proposal that suggests yoiivt action by the Anglo-Saxon peopies; and though Britain u-nd the United States are rivals rather than kinsfolk, this joint programme may serve on the Continent to resuscitate the ancient bogy of an aggressive Anglo-S.axomiom “aiming, at world supremacy.” -Moreover, if Japan, as is probable, backs up Britain and the United States, the other Powers may be constrained to accept the terms that the three Allies lay down. France resents the suggestion that her naval requirements are less important than British or American needs; she resents also 'the Italian claim for parity; and she fears that the. delegates of the Powers, when they meet, may m t only propose the abolition ot submarines, but may raise again the awkard question of military reserves. For all these reasons France at least will approach the Conference with at' least anxiety and many misgivings.