NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE I) IF FICULTIES

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10 a.m.)

RUGBY, .March .1.3

Hopes are entertained that the difficulties with which London Naval Conference has been faced since tne examination of the French tonnage figures began, may he eased as a result of week-end exchanges. French objections to Italian insistence on a parity still remain the immediate obstacle to progress, but efforts are continuing with the purpose of finding a middle course between France’s refusal to reduce? tonnage figures in the absence of a Mediterranean Treaty and Italy’s refusal to produce concrete figures of her requirements be.voml a general declaration of her demand for a parity with the strongest European continental power.

Conversations to this end bad been proceeding almost continuously since Thursday, when the Prime Minister saw first M. Briand and later Signor Grandi.

The meeting of Briand and Grandi yesterday was a long one, but apart from a brief Italian statement recording tbe meeting and M. Briaiul’s comment that the political stage of discussion was not yet over, no public indication was given of what took place.

Chief interest now centres in to-mor-row’s conference between French and British Prime Ministers at Chequers. Monsieur Loudon (Chairman of the League of Nations preparatory Disarmament Commission has arrived in London to discuss with a special representatsive of the League, Monsieur Colban, the date of the next sitting of the Commission.

RUGBY, March 16

The French Prime Minister, M. Tardieu arrived in London last night and was welcomed at the station by the First Lord of the Admiralty and Representatives of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. Leading members of tbe French delegation to London naval Conference were present. M. Tardieu proceeded at once to bis hotel. This morning lie went to Cheq” uers where lie was the guest of the British Prime • Minister at luncheon. Accompanying him wore French Ministers for Foreign affairs and Marine, M. Briand and M. Dunesnil. Mr Henderson and Mr Craigie chief British expert, were also present. A communique after meeting was in the following terms:—“ln the course of conversations lasting from 11 a.m to 1.30 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., two delegations examined the general situation with particular reference to the present stage of discussions on questions of special concern to both parties. They considered fully the means best adapted to ensure a success of negotitations.”

POSSIBLE TRIPLE AGREEMENT,

LONDON, March 16.

Sunday newspapers agree a threePower Agreement, Anglo-American-Japan is in sight. Several advocate the conclusion thereof, leaving FrancoItaly to go their own way in preference to including them within its terms, and forcing an increase instead of a reduction of three-Power programmes. M. Tardieu has arrived. He refused to divulge whether he proposed to make any change in the French attitude.

FRENCH VIEWS

(Received this day at 11 a.m., LONDON, March 13

The “ Sunday Times,” Paris correspondent, in a desptach, says that France was never greatly enamoured with the Disarmament Conference, preferring the Preparatory Commission at Geneva. Therefore she is not keenly disppointed at the prrsent eri.-is. Unless M. Tardieu’s visit to London oi - Signor Grandi’s telephone talks to Rome produce a miracle, French opinion is that the Conference is practically dead, which fact will occasion little surprise and few tears.

M. TARDIED’S HOPES

LONDON, March 16.

M. Tardieu when he returned to London from Chequers, said they had qxamined the whole situation together, particularly .points interesting to Britain and France. On one hand we specified questions about which an agreement is either certain or easy and on the other hand examined those concerning which an agreement had hitherto appeared difficult to reach. I am convinced we shall reach a satisfactory result if we exclude unwise haste.