FRANCE’S ATTITUDE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1930, Page 6

FRANCE’S ATTITUDE

HELPFUL TO BRITAIN. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 23. The “Sun” special correspondent says : It is understood that the Naval Conference took an important turn to-night as the result of discussions between the British and French delegations at No. 10, Downing Street, regarding the Anglo-French differences of opinion on the method of determining the limitation of tonnage. The French, hitherto, have maintained that the limitation should be placed on the total tonnage, while Britain has always considered that each class of ship should be limited. M. Tardieu, the Premier of France, had his speech for to-morrow prepared, 'but Mr MacDonald, so it is reported, suggested a modification of it, which M. Tardieu seems to have conceded.

Accordingly, it is believed that M. Tardieu to-morrow proposes that the basis of discussion shall be that of the total tonnage, with, an understanding, however, that each nation shall have the right to transfer its tonnage from one class to another, provided that all ol the nations sign an agreement that any changes should be advised when any ship is laid down.

'This has been the principal stumbling block as between Britain and France. The utmost significance is attached to to-day’s conversations, which may, eventually, be the forerunner to negotiations extending beyond the present conference. (Indeed, the '“Suni’e” informant, who says that “big tilings are in the air,” describes the position thus:— “There is an increasing note of optimism that some reduction will be achieved in every category. It can de* finitely be stated that the French are setting out to be helpful to Britain, even if it is in her own interests. It was always considered that France had iSir Austen Chamberlain in her pocket. Then Franco feared that Labour’s success would turn Britain against the French, but Mr Philip Snowden, at The Hague, reassured France, where, since then, all luts gone well. M. Tardieu, who is shrewd, is stronger than M. Briand, and he is going to run the Conference for France. M. Briand is now really a cipher. » The informant says that everything points to tlie belief that Britain will not find herself up against France, as had generally been believed. He expects that America will readily meet England and France, pointing out that President Hoover is most anxious for success, because bis own personal reputation is also staked on the conference. The Sun’s informant pays a tribute to the British Admiralty’s helpfulness, while it is keeping a watching eye on the Empire’s requirements.