NAVAL AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1931, Page 5

NAVAL AGREEMENT

ITALY ACCEPTS. (British Official Wircicss.) I! EG BY, February 2?. Negotiations continued in Rome tills morning. While the British and Italian Foregn Secretaries, Mr Henderson ami Signor Grandi, were conferring, Air A. V. Alexander (.First Sea Lord) and Admir.d Sirianni, with respective experts, were again engaged on the technical aspects of the problem. Strut privacy is marking the converstaion. and it is doubtful if at the conclusion of the Home visit a detailed announcement; will be immediately possible. Any agreement which may be reached must await the acquiescence of the l nited States and Japan. The Italian Press adopts an optimistic tone regarding the conversations. As it appears unlikely that the Forein Secorolary (Mr Henderson) will have returned- from Home in time to i'.t-tend: Parliament. <>n Monday, the House of Commons debate on the ascession of the United Kingdom to the General Act settlement of international disputes has been postponed, by agreement between the various parties. AGREEMENT REACHED.

ROME, February 28. Signor Grand hi has issued a state-' ineut that King Victor will receive the JH, Hon. A. Henderson and iU. Hon. All’ Alexander this morning, after which an official communique wiil be issued in reference to n naval agreement that has been reached in principle. It is understood that Air Henderson is going to Paris later in the day, with a view to the settlement of the details. ROME, February 23. A communique Prom the British Embassy states that an Italio-Brilish Agreement has been reached in pnncile on the outstanding question at the London Conference as the result of friendly conversations in a spirit of cordial collaboration between Signor Grandi, Signor Sirianni, Mr Henderson and Air Alexander. The terms of the proposed agreement have still to Me submitted to the French Government, for which purpose Alessrs Henderson and Alexander are going to Paris. Should the French Government agree, the proposals will then He submitted to the Unitaed States, Japan, Britain and the Dominions. PARIS, February 28.

Messrs Henderson and Alexander are due to-morrow. They proceed direct to the Qaui D’Orsay to confer with AI. Brinnd and M. Dumont, after- which they will go to London on Monday. AI. Briand told a Fernch correspondent to-day:—“l hope t hat a wellequipped ship will emerge from the tard of the discussion.”