NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

FIRST BUSINESS MEETING ! [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.J (Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 23. ' For once there were more police than sightseers when the Naval Conlerence delegates arrived at at. James for the first session, of the Conference. : Mr MacDonald was the first to arrive. He looked pale and tired. The secretariat hopes to issue this afternoon the text of the official statements. ■ Meanwhile the French press is busily hinting that already serious obstacles have been encountered, while American sources assert an Anglo-French compromise is likely concerning the total vessels category tonnage, also the limitation of large submarines. It is not surprising, in the light of these conjectures, that high quarters at the close of the opening session found it necessary to appeal to the press to refrain from publishing canards. This is understood to alluT.e to the grotesque statement cabled to America that M. Tardieu found such divergences that lie had takefi’up the role of mediator. • Mr MacDonald announced he had ' befin elected Chairman'and if he was absent the vice-Chairmanship would go to delegates in rotation.. Speeches • were really statements of needs from the point of view of naval strength. There was an absence of any', 'hostile desire to question one another. Tli'-the fhture there would sometimes be two or three delegations conferring ■; >; and 'sometiriibs only experts to eluci- ‘ date points to submit to the full Gon- ' Terence.

a '• The Prime Minister added: Broadly we are considering, firstly, the fleets existing; secondly, fleets laid down; and thirdly, fleets voted by Parliament. The Conference desires to achieve a common agreement that these fleets shall be at the lowest level possible, which will prevent competitive building? ■' .• '• ? This morning’s procedure was purely a genera] discussion without the forniation of 'demands. Mr MacDonald inaugurated the general discussion. Mr Stimson pointed out America’s requirements, and it is reliably "‘•understood the key, of such requirements was equality in naval power with Britain] Mr . MacDonald declared that Britain had to remember the dispersal of the Navy, which had to be divided into at least /three groups, which did not make Britain’s position easier. Grandi said Italy would leave other .Powers to determine the size of armajinehts, reserving her pivn right to re'gulate her amounts by theirs, Mr Wilford stressed that the security of the mercantile marine was vital to New Zealand,. It is significant that Mr MacDonald nn the eve of the Conference publicly reiterates the view that Britain must expand the Navy, failing an agreement. Hankey has been elected secretary of the General Conference which adjourned till next week.

1 LABOUR PARTY’S MESSAGE'. WELLINGTON, January 24.‘ ’ Tli© National Executive of the Labour Party has forwarded a cable to the British Labour Party as fellows: — l“Please convey to he British Government the good wishes of the Labour Party in New Zealand for success towards the promotion of peace throughout the Naval Conference now proceeding.' We trust that comparative and jei.tual goodwill will bring conditions that will make a successful disarmament conference possible in the immediate future. We cordially support the decision of the British Government to Reconsider the extension of the uiv u base at. Singapore, and trust that the work of the Conference will justify the Government’s decision and render ' a further extension unnecessary.”