NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

AMERICANS BUSTLING. DISCLOSURE OF BRITISH PLANS. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright, tliy ’J elegraph—Press Association). LONDON, Jan. 15. It is learned that Mr Stimson (United States Secretary) is racing to London, presumably to have the chance of conferring with Air Ramsay .MacDonald and Al. Tardieu (French Premier), and others before.the Naval Conference. The liner “George Washington,” with the extra speed, should reach Plymouth.on Thursday night, before her schedule time. This will enable the American party to arrive in London early on Friday morning. Alav he, Mr Stimson will spend the week-end at Chequers Court. The “Daily Telegraph’s” political correspondent says lie hears a hint on broad lines, that the British proposals may be indicated before the Conference settles down.

ABOLITION OF BATTLESHIPS. LONDON, Jan. 14. The National Liberal Club, seventysix Labour Commoners and one Liberal signed the manifesto urging the abolition of a substantial step towards making the Kellogg Pact a reality. DELEGATES ARRIVAL. BUG BY, Jan. 14. The United States delegation to the London Naval Conference arc due to reach England off Friday morning and French and Italian delegations are expected on Saturday. The Prime Alinister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald will moot the American Secretary of State. Air Stimson, and his colleagues shortly after they reach London and members of the different do | ecr n + i f 'u« are likely to establish contact during the week-end. There will be a meeting of all the chief delegates in the Prime Alinister’,s residence, Downing Street, on Alonday morning to settle the details of the procedure. In the afternoon the King will receive the members of the delegations at Buckingham Palace and at night they will ho the guests at a banquet given in their honour by the British Government.

THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE. LONDON, Jan. 15. The seating ■ arrangements at Tuesday’s historic opening of the Naval Conference, have been fixed as follows:—On the King’s right, in the order named, will be the French, the Canadian and the Australian delegations with the 1 American delegation on the extreme fight. On His Alajesty’s left there will be the British, Indian, Irish Free State, Italian, Japanese, New Zealand, and South African delegations. The speeches will be relayed from eleven to one o’clock. The King will he followed by Air Ramsay MacDonald, and then by the leaders of the delegations, including Air Fenton and Mr AYilford.

v NAVAL QUESTION. VISCOUNT BRIDGEAIAN’S VIEWS. RUGBY, Jan. 15. Viscount Bridgeman, First Lord of the Admiralty in the late Conservative Government, addressing a special public meeting of the Navy League, spoke on the subject of the Naval Conference. He said the cruiser problem was a difficulty in 1928, and it was a most serious difficulty now. Our building policy had been one of slow replacement, and within the next 10 years 35 of our existing cruisers would be obsolete. He referred to the statement of Air Alexander, present .hirst Lord of the Admiralty, that we .were willing to reduce our cruiser strength to 50 ships. He . said Alexander’s reason for this was most unconvincing. It was that the Kellogg Pact had made all th© diffc-rcnco between <0 cruisers we wanted in 1927 and 50 we wanted now. If the Kellogg Pact was the only reason, whv should it have such a curiously different effect upon different countries. Apparently it caused other countries to increase their cruisers, and Great Britain was the only one which was led to reduce. We cannot go on giving something for nothing. A'iscount Bridgeman added that he believed an agreement could he reached in a spirit of give and take, but other people must give as well as ourselves.

BRITISH VIEWPOINT. OUTLINED BY AIR AIACDONALD. (British Officials AVireless). RUGBY. Jan. 15. Premier AtacPonakl had a conference with the British, Dominion and Foreign pressmen at the Foreign Office this afternoon, when lie dealt with various aspects of the naval position. He answered many questions and said ho had met: the Dominion representatives wlm were satisfied w.ith his statement to them. The following may he regarded as an authoritative statement regarding the British Government’s attitude on the eve ol the conference.

The expressed aim of the British Government in entering next week’s

naval conference is to achieve a maximum reduction in naval armaments, commensurate: with interna-

tional security, avoiding proposals that would wreck the chances of agreement and bearing constantly in mind the extent of the British Em. pi re and its dependence on the Navy for the protection of her seabourne trade and maritime communications. A justification for the hope that much reduction may safely be realised is to he found primarily in the numerous instruments for entrenching security which have been signed since the war. The Covenant of the League of Nations, Washington Treaty, Lociirno Treaties, Optional Clause and pact of these instruments, hut in‘addition there have been a number of regional agreements to which the signatories attach considerable importance for the maintenance’of world

peace. I lie cumulative effect of these agreements it is felt make some advance in the direction of naval disarmament possible, lor in view of the Government, the military force must bear some relation to the immediate risk of war which as a result of these agreements has been reduced, and it is bad statesmanship to maintain armaments beyond the necessity. ■lt is the opinion of the Government that the dangerous tendency within recent years to expand world naval armament, may, unless checked,.

lead to competition. There are three ways in which the problem of naval reduction may be approached. Firstly, by a reduction of fleets in being.

Secondly, by a reduction of programmes sanctioned by various Governments.

And, thirdly, by the extension of the life of the existing ships. In regard to battleships the Wash-

ington Treaty left their age at 20 years. If that life can be extended at the coming conference to 25 years, the result will be equivalent to a reduction.

As to cruisers, the problem is largely that of distribution of tonnage within cruiser categories, ,hnd of agreement upon what should be an equilibrium as between nation and nation in the number of cruisers. If without sacrificing security, an

agreement can be reached on these lines stopping competition when power and force of political agreement to prevent jvlar is automatically strengthened, and the prospect of a more complete disarmament when the time comes to review agreements, is improvd. I n setting out on the tasks of the ’Conference, the British Government

therefore bases itself on the assumption that for a considerable period peace is sure and that the mere, fact that a naval agreement is readied will increase the feeling of security.

Even if the result of the Conference does not fulfil all hopes of those responsible for convening it, the British Government is determined to do everything within their power to show the world that it is prepared to proceed step by step to a satisfactory solution of the disarmament problem, but everything is dependent -on international agreement Britain can only move on condition that other nations move correspondingly, and any agreement which comes out of the Conference must really represent an international agreement.

To extend the life and reduce size and gun power, replacement of battleships would he a great step forward. An agreement regarding cruisers as to number, size and distribution would also reorcisent a most valuable ad-

vance. As to submarines the Government favour tbj?ir complete abolition but failing that they aim at a reduction of their size and number to the minimum. Here again, however, .the question arises of achieving satisfactory equilibrium between the nations, and a discussion of this point at the Conference, will he highly important. It is full recognised that the points of view of individual nations, if unduly stressed, might destroy the chances of valuable results. So far as the British Government is concerned, they will go into the Conference prepared to favour proposals which will represent, not merely their own point of view, but which will represent the most helpful basis for reaching a general agreement.