The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1930. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1930. THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Last week it was reported from London that the deadlock at the Naval Conference still continued, and that the situation showed no definite signs of improvement. Up to tlip point at which M. Tardieu and M. Briand had gone hack to Paris to handle the political crisis there, the British X’ress was still convinced that, in spite ot France’s insistence on “security” and the differences in opinion and outlook between France and Italy, some sort of agreement between the Powers was still possible. At the worst it was assumed that even France and Italy stood aside and attempted to settle their difficulties for themselves, a tripartite arrangement between Britain, America, and Japan was still within the range of practical politics. But then came the news that Japan was “determined to adhere to her original demands,” and, with France still obdurate, the Conference seemed once more bn the very verge of shipwreck. When this point was reached, the promoters of the Conference set about the task of “salvaging” the situation. 'By this time .M. Tardieu, who is irreconcilably opposed to the Anglo-American proposals,. bad evidently made up bis mind not to return to London. But M. Briand is always conciliatory, and much was boned from liis intervention. Unfortunately political exigencies detained him in Paris throughout the week, and Conference prospects in the j

meantime have gone from had to worse. The “Times” and the “'Observer” tried to console themselves and the general public with the assurance that “something could be saved”; though they had to admit that even a three-power agreement must be contingent on the action of the outside Powers and tile additions that they may make to their navies from time to time. Still this was cold comfort, and the last week closed leaving the Conference in an atmosphere of almost unrelieved disillusionment and gloom. However, Mr MacDonald and his colleagues evidently believe that all is not yet lost, and they have decided to get over the difficulties involved in a thrce-Power ngreeoriginal intention or securing agreement and a separate pact between Franco and Italy by reverting to tlieii original intention of securing agreement on a five-Power basis. Whether this attempt to “get hack to fundamentals” will he successful or not it is impossible to predict. But the outlook has certainly not been improved by the mutual reproaches and recriminations in which the journalists and the politicians of the various nations concerned have been indulging. Italy and France are blaming each other for making excessive demands. British newspapers condemn France for her “obstinacy,” and in America, the influential section of public opinion represented by 'Mr F. H. Britten, h again denouncing England for “wrecking” the Conference by refusing to surrender unconditionally to the American claim for “freedom of the seas” in war-time. Meantime AT. Briand, after reiterating that all France requires is that “security” which she cannot expect till the Powers have agreed -on some, scheme of concerted action to enforce the various pacts against war, is returning to London to give his powerful aid in the process of reenstr acting the Conference. Perhaps, says a northern pnner, in summing up the .recent situation, the best than can be said for the situation is that it is not hopeless, and that the Conference has not failed vet.