BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1930, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS,

NEW ZEALAND NAVAL REPRESENTATIVE.

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. ]

(Received this day at 11 a.m.,

LONDON, July 7

In the House of Commons, Mr Crooksliank inquired into the reasons of the Government's refusal to r o-

ceiv’e the New Zealand nominated representative at the Naval Conference. Mr MacDonald: "There never was nor could be any question of the Government declining to receive a representative nominated by New Zealand.” j)lr Crooksliank: “Do you mean to say the statements made in the House of Lords are quite incorrect.” Mr MacDonald: “No.” .Mr Crooksliank: “Then what do j'ou mean.” There was no reply.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

(Official ’Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10.39 a.m ) RUGBY, Jrilv 7.

In . the House of' Commons to-day various questions regarding the Naval Treaty were addressed to the Prime Minister. He said that, at the time when the preliminary negotiations took place in' August and September last with the United -States, the question of cruiser replacement was considered by the Admiralty and the figure of 91,000 tons was put forward for the new tonnage to be completed by the end of 1936. This figure was employed in the ensuing . conversations, which had for their object the removal of earlier difficulties in regard to cruiser limitations. These preliminary, conversations were for the purpose only of clearing the ground prior to the London Conference. The figure of 91,000 tons was finally fixed during the Conference, when after negotiations with United States and Japan, it w;>s found that it met the (British replacement- requirements within terms of .'the treaty. The Prime Minister added that the forthcoming Imperial Conference might well afford a .convenient opportunity for, discussing the. naval building programme in the light of the London naval treaty the definite question of discussing- a limitations of tonnage which the treaty imposed could be raised by any Dominion that so desired.

At the Secretary, for India’s request, various questions regarding the composition and terms of reference of the. round, table conference on Indian affairs were postponed until Wednesday.