NAVAL REDUCTION CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1929, Page 3

NAVAL REDUCTION CONFERENCE

INVITATIONS ISSUED. INFORMAL ANGLO-A MEIUCAN AGREEMENT. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, October 8. The text is -published of the Note addressed yesterday by Mr Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, to the French, Italian, and Japanese- Ambassadors in London, inviting their Governments to participate in the Five-PoAver 'Conference. The Note savs:--

“I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the informal conversations on thcj subject of naval disarmament which have been proceeding in London during tlie last three months between the Prime Minister and the Ambassador of the United States have now reached a stage at which it is possible to say that there is no point outstanding of such serious importance* as to prevent an agreement. From tiffre to time the Prime Minister has notified your Excellency of the progress made in these discussions, and I now have the honour to state that a provisional and informal agreement has been reached on the following principles:— M) The conversations have been one of the results of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War signed at Paris in 1928. which brought about a- realignment of our national at titude on the subject of security., in consequence of the provision that war should not b n used as an instrument of national policy in the relations of the nations one to another. Therefore the Peace Pact has been regarded as the starting point of the agreement. f2i It- has been agreed to adopt the principle of parity in each of the several ;entesfories !and that such parity shall be reached by December 31, 1936. Consultation between bis Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and his Majesty’s Governments in the Dominions has taken place and it is contemplated that the programme of parity on the British side should he related to the naval forces of all parts of the Empire. ’ (3) The question of battleship strength was also, touched upon during the conversations, and it has been agreed, in these conversations that subject to the. assent of the other • signatory Powers, itwould be desirable to reconsider the battleship replacement programme provided for in the Washington Treaty of 1922, with a view to diminishing the amount of replacennrt- construction implied under that Treaty. 1(4) Since MV the Government of the United States and his Majesty’s Governmerit in ' the United Kingdom adhere to the attitude that they have publicly adopted in regard to the desirability of securing the total abolition of submarines, this matter barcllv gave rise to discussion during the recent conversations. They recognise, however, that no final settlement on this subject can be reached except in cnnUii'enc'e with the other naval Powere. The Note continues:

“Tn view of the scone of these discussions both Governments consider that it is most desirable that- a confprince, should be shnimoned to consider tlie categories not covered by the Washington Treaty and to arrange for and deal with the questions covered by the second paragraph of Article 21 of that Treaty. It is our earnest hope that your Government Will agree to thiei desirability of such a conference. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the United States are in accord thajt such a conference should be held in London at the beginning of the third week of January, 1930, and it is hoped that, vomr Government will he willing to appoint representatives to attend it. His Majesty’s Governments in the Dominions are being asked to appoint representatives to take part in the conference. In the same way as the two Governments have kept your Excellency informally au courant of the recent discussions so nmv his Majesty’s Government will he willing in the interval before the proposed conference to continue] the informal conversations with your Excellency, on any points which may require elucidation. The importance of reviewing the whole naval situation at an. early date is so vital in the interests of general disarmament that I trust your Excellency’s Government will see their way to accept this invitation and that the date proposed will be agreeable to them. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom propose to communicate to you in due course their views as to the subjects which they think should be discussed at the conference and will he glad Yto receive a corresponding communication from your Government. It is hoped that at this conference the principal Naval Powers may ho successful in reaching an agreement. 1 should like to emphasise that his Majesty’s Government have discovered no inclination in any quarter to set up new machinery for dealing with the naval disarmament question. On the contrary, it is hoped that hv this means the text can he elaborated, which will facilitate the task of the League of Nations Preparatory Commission and of the subsequent General Disarmament Conference.” In transmitting a copy of the Note to General O. G. Dawes, the American Ambassador in London, Mr Hen-