NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

WIDE DIFFERENCE

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 11. 11l the course of thei r reply to the French Note of December 20th. on the l provision of national security by a political agreement, the British Government states, regarding the reference in the French piemorandum to a system of the limitation of naval armaments by global tonnage, that the British Government have insistently expressed their prefrenee for dealing with the problem of naval disarmament by a strict limitation of the types of tonnage and of the guns for all categories of warships, since they feel confident that any and other method may tend to preserve those elements of competition and uncertainty which it will be one of the objects of the Naval Conference to eliminate.

The ueply says: The problem of naval armaments involves, not only the amount of tonnage, but the use to which it is put. Nevertheless, His Majesty’s Government have studied, with pleasure, the proposal to which tho French Government refer, and are ready to discuss the possibility of some arrangement based upon that proposal.”

Discussing . the French thesis that there is a close interdependence, between the various defensive arms of a country, and also the reasons given by the French Government why they regard this as the fundamental principle of their policy of national defence, the reply says that the British Government agree that the problems of naval, land and air disarmament cannot be completely dissociated one from another; but they do not take the view that no attempt should be made to deal with one. unless all are being dealt with simultaneously.

In reference to • the view of the French Government regarding..the desirability of a treaty of mutual (guarantee and non-aggression between the Alediterranean Powers, the British Government agree that the Four Power Treaty relating to the Pacific, which resulted from the Washington Conference, had an influence upon the negotiations l of the Washington' Naval Treaty. It is stated: “His Majesty’s uovernment ‘Would only point- out at this stage that'a treaty such as that suggested by the French Government appears to go considerably ” further than the Pacific Treaty above mentioned, which provided only for the summoning of a conference for the settlement of controversies and for joint consultation in the face of aggressive action Inasmuch as all the Mediterranean Powers sire members of the League of 1 Nations, it would appear that facilities already exist for joint consultation in the event"of need. There is a great measure of security in tin's, but His Majesty’s Government would be g’lad'-'to exchange views on the subject with all of the Povyers concerned.” ; v *

The reply notbs; with particular pleasure. the opinioh that none of the problems mentioned in tbe French memorandum amount to obstacles, and they share entirely the confidence felt by the French Government that there will he cordial cooperation amongst the delegations to promote the great aims of the Conference, and that success will terminate their labours.

U.S.A. SUGGESTION. NEW YORK, Jan. 12. The New York Herald and Tribune’s Washington correspondent states: Authoritative administration circles predict that if a satisfactory maritime agreement is acomplished at the London Conference, a world disarmament conference, under the League of Na~ toiir . seeking a general treaty limiting all i lasses of lighting machinery on land, or sea and on air, will be called before man.- The United States, it is said, will not participate therein, but will uuio’d'.iedly consent to any treaty resulting from the forthcoming London Conference being used as a basis for a further naval agreement in a general disarmament treaty, lit is believed that Mr Stimson (U.S.A. Secretary) will undoubtedly assure M. Tardieu (French Premier) on Saturday that this is the United States’ attitude.

ITALIAN COMMENT. ROME, Jan. 13. “Foglio D’Ordine” the official organ of the Fascist Party, in -a leader on tlie London Conference, declared Italy not only maintains her rights to naval parity with France but asserts them against the strongest Power. She refrains from asserting them against Britain only on account of her modest economic and financial possibilities.