The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1930. THE NAVAL PACT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1930. THE NAVAL PACT.

Apropos L.e naval pact resulting from the Bouden Conference of Five Powers regarding the matter or international disarmament, a writer in the Auckland Swir remarks that a tynic lias ocsened that tiic real test of the fairness of any agreeiucui/ is that all the parties to it onad be equally dissatisned. If this lest is a sound one, the Three Power Beaty which was the duet outcome of Die recent Naval Conference must be from the standpoint of equity a very successful compact. For in all the three countries concerned there lias been a suong outburst o. adverse criticism directed against it. In the House ui Lords, Lord Jellicoe maintained that Britain’s naval reductions have gone

beyond the iinius 01 surety.” A' week later, in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill declared that the Government had exceeded all reason by “solemnly accepting a permanently secondary position m sea power,” and lie warned the country that the Conservatives hold themselves free “to review t.ie whole situation” when they get the ciwu.ce. In America, Mr Stimsan nas made a valiant defence of the Pact as representing the best that be done under the circumstances, and securing at least “parity” for the United States. But lie has against him ii;e American Navy Board, which objects to 'the acceptance of small tor large cruisers, and also the indefatigable Mr,Borah, who, as Chairman «.i the Foieign Relations Committee of the Senate, is carefully sifting every clause of the Treaty, In Japan the most noteworthy event m this connection is the suicide of a lieutenant' commander and member of the Naval Staff to signify ids disapproval of the humiliating sumynheis alia c Japan made at London, But in spite of these acute differences of opinion, the rest of the world will continue to believe that the Naval Pact is at least a siep m the right direction.. But outside the charmed circle of the Pact there stand two Powers of the first rank. France and Italy, and so far they have displayed no intention of. sinking their differences. France’s position is, after all, quite simple and easy to understand. As Mr Frank Simonds points out ,in a characteristically clear anu impressive article in the last number uf the “Nationa Review,” France went to the Naval Conference regarding tlie whole (j icdtJoa at ism 3 fro n 'the standpoint which she lias maintained ever since the close of the Great War. If Britain -and America would guarantee France under all circumstances against Germany—as President Wilson and Lloyd George promised before the Peace was signed—France would be quite prepared to reduce her navy and conio into line with Britain and the United States, But as the United States and Britain have declined to adopt this policy, France can only reserve to herself the right of absolutely unrestricted action in regard to naval policy, But France is certainly anxious to compose her difficulties with Italy, and the “conversations” that havn been in progress between M. Briand and Signor Grandi ever since they left London seem tending in that direction. The British Press apparently recognises that “the political questions that have been outstanding in recent years” between Italy and France are a serious obstacle in the way of naval disarmament; and it is thus not surprising to learn that Grandi would like to discuss the Fran-co-Yugoslav alliance, which he regards as a “potential menace” to his own country. If Grandi. as reported, is ically prepared a> consider a triple agreement between Franco, Italy and Yugoslavia ,recognising “Italy’s special interests in the Adriatic,” all differences might be amicably settled and t.,c naval problem solved as well. It is apparent, however, that ns soon as 0110 section composes its difficulties by concessions on tno lines of a compromise, another section regards the arrangement with disfavour. The political situation at Home also may at any moment peopardise the ultimate settlement of the naval pact, Mr Ramsay MacDonald who has sponsored throughout the arrangement reached, may ] not bo successful in winning the next general election’. The Government which has jeopardised the apparent safety ol the Empire has never met with a renown) of the peoples’ confidence on appeal to the country. There will bo much influential opinion at Home discrediting the pact from the British standpoint. Lord Jellhoe’s dictum, for instance, that flio safety liiyit has been exceeded, would carry conviction to many thousands of votes. • tie Labour Government is being weakened from within, which disintegration is the most serious, if an enrjy appeal is made to the electors,. This aspect, may give the naval pact an entirely now complexion at any moment, , and on that account the present situation will he followed by the greatest interest by all concerned in the ratification of tlm agree- I men! reached at the London Conference