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Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 4

The various forecasts of the ThreePower Naval Pact were very full, ana were confirmed in fuller detail by the publication of the Naval Treaty. The main points were clearly summarised, and those of special interest have been well commented on. Great Britain, United States and Japan in the end met each other’s objections very fairly, and it says something for the sanity of their outlook that they were able to reach a substantial degree of unanimity and this was reduced to the set terms of the treaty. In regard to the building and scrapping of battleships and the quota of large and small cruisers, Britain, the United States and Japan have come to a definite agreement which seems to satisfy the needs of these Powers, and will, according to the “Daily Express,” save Britain £100,000,000 in building costs and £60,000,000 in maintenance during the next ten years. These are certainly very substantial achievements, and they are. sufficient in themselves to justify the congratulatory tone Qf the PressVommeuts on the conclusion ol the Conference in Britain and the United States, As .against /this, i/t must he remombored thnt France and Italy have declined to sign the Pact, and the only point on which they join hands with the Three Powers is in agreeing not to lniild “replacement” ships between 1031 and 1936. Otherwise, their differences of opinion are to be settled on their own ’terms at their own convenience, A further weakness in the treaty is tho recognition of submarines; for the attempt to regulate their n'otion is not at all likely "to ho siicces.J'nl. Yet in spite of these shortcomings it will he generally agreed that the Naval Conference has effected good work in the cause of international good will. Much of its success is evidently due to the tact and sincerity of Mr MacDonald, whose Handling of the discussions has been widely eulogised even by strong politi-

cal opponents. But it is quite possible mat, as the New York “World” lias suggested, if either Mr MacDonald or Mr Hoover had proposed joint action or even consultation, between all the Powers in the event of a threatened war, France would have accepted this guarantee of “security’’ and the Conference might have closed with an agreement between all the Powers to maintain the world’s peace.