NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

THE NAVAL ISSUE

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 8,

While a further reverberation on .Hr Liiimson’s cruiser statement is contained in. an address to-day by Representative French, Chairman of the House Naval .Sub-Committee, that it is satisfactory and calculated to inspire confidence in the Conference, it is interesting to note the varied reaction here to the British statement. There is one point () i view that while Britain is to he commended for stating frankly and fully its programme, it would unnecessarily complicate the present Conference it consideration of the battleship position were now taken up, since there are enough no-limit unrestricted classes of warships. Another view is that M,r im.son is doubtlessly "drafting api in for compensations as concerns the battleship proposals, that Britain would to required to reduce the battleship tonnage below America’s to compensate for the superiority of the Rodney and Nelson, and that a numerical battleship parity, would not be a parity at all. Another point of view is that the United States may ask to be allowed to build at least one more 35,000 toil battleship as another method of securing actual fighting strength parity, as well a s numerical parity.

NEWS AND VIEWS. LONDON, Feb. 9,

The experts representing the Five Naval Powers during the week end visited the Prime Minister', Mr MacDonald at Chequers. It is understood the discussion concerned the Anglo-American, memoranda and their relation to the respective policies.

An interesting position may arise in the coming week affecting the Dominions through Friday’s British statement which was headed: “Memorandum setting forth the policy of His Majesty’s Government.” The British spokesman revealed it s discussion by the Dominions, “who agreed thereto so unofficially, and it also represents the views of tho Dominions.”

The Australian Press Association understands that though assenting to the declaration, some of the Dominions expressed a fear Britain was going a little too far in depleting her fleet, before Japan, France and Italy had shown their hands. It is known the Canadians wei'e relieved of a measure of anxiety relating to the Pacific by America’s readiness to reduce the large cruisers to eighteen, so presumably, the aforementioned doubt exists in the minds of the Australian and New Zealand delegations. For the safety of the Empire’s supports, it is possible Mr Fenton’s and Mr Wilford’s voices may be heard at Thursday's plenary Session on the nature of the Dominions reservations on memorandum. . (PARIS, Feb. 9. French distrust and disillusion are reflected in'the. press-comments. “Le Temps” says the fmemornda meant the United States would like to have naval supremacy at the smallest cost. Britain is trying to maintain her supremacy by sharing it with United States in order to realise important economies. M; Pertinax in the “Echo .de Paris” says tlm Anglo-American naval supremacy is to be maintained by tying Franco and Italy down to closely defined and comparatively innocuous types of ships.

NAVAL EXPERTS IN AGREEMENT (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 3. The Experts of the Sub-Connnittee of the Naval Conference met in London. yesterday, and at the conclusion of their deliberations, the following communique was issued by the United States delegation: — The Sub-Committee of Experts continued their examination of the table establishing the classification of the categories to be drawn up F°i su mission to the First Committee. Good progress was made with t.nis voi v, and a special sub-committee will meet again on Monday morning to take up the question of vessels not subject to limitation, and special ships such as mine sweepers, mine layers, hospital ships, and sloops which were referred to by the First Committee.