The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1930. STILL IN CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1930. STILL IN CONFERENCE.

Thk Naval Conl'oronon fonlimit’s to drag along, and though the high hopes of a great success appear Lo have dissipated, tlieie are still expeclnLions that something tangible and profitable will lie accomplished, and something really done. The general situation has its complexities At tin 1 outset Britain and America appeared to have reached an understanding of interests, and it was this apparent Fact which gave credence to the helief lor the high hopes and great expectations. But nohind closed doors the anticipations did not come to pass, (treat Britain made pronounced gestures which indicated a thoroughness of intention to reduce armaments in a practical way. It was an excellent lead hut did not provoke as was hoped, reciprocal action

from the other Great Powers. On the contrary there was a tightening rather of proposals, and Britain’s good intenI tions had no effect. Now there ap- » pears to be an agreement as between the United States and Japan on one Hand, and a possible agreement as between Prance and Italy on the other. Great Britain stands between these two schools, and ir will lie something of a task to adjust- her forces so that Britain may be in measurable agreement with both. It was clear that there is not going to he any wholesale reduction of ai liniments. The Powers are still too fearful of each other to give anything like complete trust in the ixma Tides of one - another. Each, of course-, has its own home problem, which in reality is mainly political, and politics really sway the negotiations. Most of the serious business of the Conference has been carried on behind closed doors, but headway of a kind is being made. Japan and the United States consider they have a Pacific naval problem to deal with, just as Italy and France have their Mediterranean pioUein. Britain is involved in both the Pacific and the Mediterranean, so that her problem is double-barrelled. It is essential, however, that a scheme for the reduction of naval armaments, if it- is to be of j/vL'inaiiont value, shall embrace all the five maritime States that are to ue lepresoiited at the Conference. It is of particular moment to Great Britain that an agreement for the reduction o. naval armaments should be one to which France and Italy, as well as the United States and Japan are 'parties. The separate interests of the l nited States and Japan do not demand''that "there shall lie any agreement so comprehensive in nature as this. The only navies that really concern the United States are those of Great Britain and Japan. And it is only with the- navies'' of Great Britain and the United States that Japan is concerned. Certain geographical considerations which' canj not in any circumstances bo ignored j by Great Britain are of small moment to these other two countries. The bal.mce of power in the Mediterranean Sea may he'a matter of indifference to the United States and Japan. To Great Britain and the British Empire t is obviously of the highest possible importance that access to the Suez Canal, a vital artery of the Empire, dial! never he in danger of interruption. France and Italy, however, both ancient naval Powers, each with ts traditions of maritime grandeur and glory, have their own views respecting naval policy, and the fact that their views conflict rather sharply in an important respect with the views which the statesmen of tlie three major naval Powers have expressed will, in all likelihood, render the achievement of an agreement embracing all five Powers seriously difficult. If such an agreement cannot he effected, a tri-lateral treaty unden - which Great Britain, the United States, and Japan would severally undertake to reduce their armaments may be suggested. Even to that there may he valid objection based on the fact that Great Britain cannot, in the interests of her own security, disregard developments that may occur in life naval policies of France and Italy. C'onse<l uontly, the optimism which marked the opening of the Conference is now tempered with general doubt as (o (he distance the Five Powers may go in general agreement. But hone springs eternal, and there will still he tlm-se who believe much, is yet possible before the Conference finally doses. Great Britain’s position is a difficult one, and the final outcome will ho awaited with great interest