NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE

AT DINNER;- AN]},EXCEPTION

United Presß Association. —By Electric Telegrapn.—Copyright, l

LONDON, Jan. 20

The British Government tendered a banquet to the Naval Conference delegates at the Savoy Hotel. It was a brilliant spectacle. There were many, women, ltt. Hon. J. ltamsay MacDonald, presided, sitting between Mr Stimson (U.S.A. Secretary-).;, and M. Tardieu (French Primier).' The 'guests were not seated in delegations, but were scattered. Lord Jellicoe /was next to a Japanese Admiral. Miss Islibel MacDonald, who wore a simple green dress, assisted at the reception, and was between a J apanese and an American.

Mr MacDonald proposed individual-'' ly the toasts of the Kings, and' presidents of the five Powers represented, which were musically honoured by the National Anthem of each country. ' Mr MacDonald said that the delegates had certainly come to strive heart and soul for the success of the conference. If, he. remarked, the chief delegates behaved during the Conference as ’allhad ‘behaved to-day, then if would be the most pleasant period that he had ever experienced. Nevertheless he knew that there would be much work, and .little play. Mr MacDonald successively complimented M. Tardieu, lit. Briand,'Signor/Grandi, Count Wakatsuki and Mr Stimson. He added that the United States had led every recent peace movement. The Dominions’ representatives, he said, were distinguished by their conspicuous public services. It would 'be air interesting problem of constitutional .evolution to decide how' far they were hosts and how far they were guests; He hoped that the Empire would contribute another successful experiment in the guidance of the remainder of the world.

In his reply to the toast, Mr Stimson (U.S.A. Secretary of State),pleaded for conditions of goodwill and honest effort whereby those attending the conference would be able to understand the circumstances and difficulties of the sister nations represented. He urged the delegates to approacn the Conference table desiring not to overeach their fellows, but to attain a result beneficial to all. If anyone left the Conference, feeling, his country had been coerced into an unfavourable agreement, its purpose Would not have been ' achieved, as the sense of injury would remain a rankling sore, plaguing mutual relations in future years. He paid a ribute to Mr MacDonald, whose visit to America, he said, had lastingly impressed Americans, to whom he seemed the personi-fication-of ; international goodwill and of a lofty, desire for peace on earth. Mr Stimson 1 enfpiiasised’ ;i ‘ 'Amenea / s friendly, sympathetic relations with the other- nations represented at the Conference, and recalled that, America's affection for France dated from the foundation of the United. States, .and said it had been- given/a, new Impetus by their admiration for her fight for human liberty in war time, while -/America'sties ' with . Italy stretched - between thousands of homes in either country. “Towards Japan, America had friendship and esteem based on a long and intimate association, and a high appreciation of her vital service as a stabilising force in the Far East. The Australian delegate, Hon Mr Fenton, sat at the high table to . the left of .Mr Ramsay MacDonald,' and Hon T. M. Wilford (New Zealand delegate) to the right. The speeches were reduced to a minimum after Mr MacDonald’s separate toasts.

Then the French representative suggested that the five Dominions should be similarly honourd. Fortunately, this did not go any further. As it was, Mr MacDonald and Miss Islibel MacDonald were half an hour late for the Government Lancaster House reception, which was another brilliant spectacle,, .though no uniforms were worn. There were over a thousand guests at the reception. LONDON, Jan. 21.

Mr Stimson said the chief purpose of the meeting was to transform the process of naval armaments from a method of competition to one of agreement and limitation. He added': “Economy is only an important byproduct. Our real aim is to remove the secrecy, rivalry and mutual irritation, which inevitably attends the. process of competition in armaments’, and to leave each nation free to have an adequate national defence, which yet ivill not be a source of worry and suspicion to its neighbours. Manifestly such a result is only obtainable by frankness and goodwill.

GETTING TO WORK

THE PRELIMINARIES

RUGBY, Jan. 20

At this morning’s meeting at Downing Street of the principal delegates to the Naval Conference, it was unanimously agreed that Mr Ramsay MacDonald should be. elected chairman of the Conference, and that on the completion of the speeches, the Conference should be adjourned till Thursday morning, when it will reassemble at St. James’ Palace. ‘Wednesday will be devoted to consultations between the various delegates. At Thursday’s meeting a Committee will be appointed consisting of all of the delegates, to carry out the main work of the 'Conference, and a general statement will be made by the heads of all delegations, regarding the neetds of their respective countries.

This afternoon the King, who had arrived from Sandringham by tram during the morning, received the principal delegates in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony was entirely devoid of formality. The King extended a very warm welcome to the delegates, and wished them success in their deliberations. Afterwards the British delegates at Downing Street met first the French delegates and then the Italian delegates. LONDON, Jan. 20. • The Naval Conference begins its real, business on Thursday with a general 'discussion on the naval needs''of each country. It is postponing till', later' the question of aggregate tonnages and ratios. This completely reverses the methods used at Geneva- and at Washington, where the first aim was to seek a tonnage ratio The French delegates, particularly, welcome this procedure. . BANKING ON CRUISERS! •U.S.A. FOR BATTLESHIP ABOLITION. WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. Although certain Governmental circles are insisting Representative French’s address has in no way re,..fleeted the Administration’s' wishes "concerning the treatment of battleships at the London Conference, there has been wide interest accorded fo the speech of Mi.’ French, wife is the chairman of the Appropriations Sub-Com-mittee for naval expenditures, He declared before the U.Si House of Representatives that the' position of battleships as a means of Warfare had been-' questioned with the advent oi the more modern craft- "of- the spa aiid of the air.' Mr French' stated that naval critics “whose judgement ciinno't be blown down wind” say that in the event of war to-day the battleships would be anchored in the safest of harbours, pending an eventual move. He also stated that, although team work was necessary, and no'nation could take a course alone, the tax burden of all peoples would he lightened it battleships were “t,a he withdrawn permanently from the fleets of the nations.”

BROADCAST NOT A SUCCESS (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 22. The broadcast 'of speeches at the London Naval Conference were satisfactory only from the point, of view of 'violume. The King’s voice, like all others, was’ heard clearly but the utterances were indistinguishable, except for a. word here and there. Users of shortwave sets fared 'no better. The reception improved after 10 o’clock. ' AT WELLINGTON. ' -WELLINGTON, Jan. 22. The broadcastingof . .the" King’s address was' not successful. A deep surging rendered the voice all but' inaudible and only fragments were picked lip. Later on, Mr Stimson, the American delegate, was heard better. ADMIRAL VON TIRPITZ SCOFFS AT NAVAL CONFERENCE. , this day at 8.30 a.m:) • ' : - BERLIN,- Jan. -21. The years have not changed Von Tirpitz, the apostle of frightfnlness in submarine warfare. He scoffs at the Naval Conference and declares none of the Rowers shows its true colours. “There is much bandying of phrases, but regardless of agreements, navies will retain a loophole for the pursuance of their own interests. Germany l is not interested in the Conference. She has no reason for being so. Aii AngloAmerican naval hegemony is assured, but England has renounced Rule Brittannia as the price of friendship with the United States. Thus, the world war has resulted in a victory for America over Britain, as well as Germany. Submarines will not be abolished, because no nation fighting for its existence can renounce Sucili a valuable weapon. Britain will not "forfeit ...the right- of blockade. British admirals think as J do.”

THE KING’S SPEECH

(Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 21

King George in his speech at the opening of the Naval Conference, said:

“It is with sincere satisfaction I am present to welcome the delegates of the live principal naval Powers, assembled with the object of eliminating the evil results of wasteful competition in naval armaments. Every nation represented here is proud of its Navy, proud of that Navy’s past achievements and inspiring- traditions. It is not the fault of these traditions,/nor ol -our“Navies,' if competing naval'construction due to supposed necessities ol policy, has led to a feeling of insecurity between nations, even to the risk of war. Since the Great War, all peoples have been determined that human statecraft shall leave nothing undone to -prevent a repetition-'of that grim, immense tragedy;' ;

“In the edifice of peace ' which -we are seeking to build, one of its most important columns is an agreement between maritime unions on the limitation of naval strength and a reduction to a point consistent with national security. The practical application of principle of reduction of naval armaments lias in the past proved a matter of supreme difficulty. A great success was achieved in me conclusions of the Washington Treaty of 1922, imposing certain limitations on the construction of capital ships and aiiciaft carriers, hut hitherto- all efforts to advance bevond ’’ a 1 point have failed.

“I believe - that you, to whom your Governments have entrusted the mission of continuing the task begun at Washington, are animated with single-minded intentions, of working, not Ufjth any selffsh and exclusively nationalistic purpose, ,but with the noble inspiration and resolve to icniovcj once and lor all, this particulai obstacle from the path of ordered civilised progress. All nations have vailing schemes demanding special consideration, but if each- is equally determined to make some sacrifice, as a contribution to the common good, I feel sure your deliberations will confer a great and lasting benefitp not onl> upon the countries which-you xepiesent, but upon 'mankind generally. I earnestly trust the results df- this Conference will lead to. the immediate alleviation of the heavy burdens of armaments now weighing upon the people of the world, and also by. facilitating the future work of the League Preparatory Commission on Disarmament. and hasten the time when a General Disarmament Conference can deal with this problem, in an even more comprehensive manner. “In this hope, I shall follow yoiu deliberations with the closest interest and attention.”