DISARMAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1933, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

PARIS CONFERENCE ANGLO- FRENCH CONVERSATIONS (Per British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 18. To-day’s disarmament conversation in Paris between M. Dcladier, M. Boncou.r and ,th 3 ’British, Ambassador, Lord Tyirell, and Captain Eden lasted' four and a half hours. A fcomim.miqn.ie issued afterwards stated ■ the conversation was devoted to an examination of the situation a s it existed before the resumption of woTk of the Disarmament., Conference, and added, “In the exchange of views which topic place in a , spirit of mutual confidence,,, the representatives of the two countries, explained the views °f their respective 'Governments on the various questions under consideration, with a view to harmonising them. The British representatives are. reporting the results of .conversations to their Government., It is anticipated there will be »< further conversation at an early date. M, Daladier, the premier, questioned by the press after the meeting- said ■that much ' progress h-d ! been> realised since last June, and t'he' viewpoints of Britain and France had come considerably closer together,’ ■ _ , During the first -reading discussion of the Convention, certain' difficulties and differences "arose which, were nt.t put f<i : the vote. This will be done at the second reading, which will proceed soon after I 'the Conference resumes on October 16. Some -of the difficulties - which the -first reading debate revealed, were the schedule "of figures contained in the draft of effectives of Continental* armies, the ‘ proposal for air disarmament, proposals that France and Italy should adhere to the -London Naval Treaty, supervision -of armaments, and definition of an aggressor. -Communications have, been passing between the Powers on thefeef 1 trues- | tions, .arid. ’ they have been d^cussed with seyera,] leading members of the Conference by M r Henderson on' his recent visits'‘to the principal European j capitals.^:.,.-i, . .. .... . 1 Norpian Davis ■’breakfasted w'th 1 the Prime Minister at 'N o. 10 Downing j Bti eet, and -afterwards' for • Paris, ■where he.’wdill -remain three' o r four davs, proceeding thence- to Geneva . Mr 4 Henderson, is' leaving V to-day. for Gepeya, where he will meet ’ lead- j ing statesmen, for. lurcher consider** i Von pf the problems, now facing the. Conference. - - The British Government j is anxious to press forward the British draft Convention.

U.S.- NAVAL. PROGRAMME

BRITAIN’S INTEREST THEREIN

f , .'new YORK, -September 19. The wiflhingtcn corresponded of the (New York. "Herald Tribune” states: "While Senator Hull (U.S. Secretary) Is .denying the London reports that- the British Government are suggesting the ■abandonment .by the United. States of its new navatl building programme, there are indications that , Britain would move to open naval, 'discussions for the .purpose of securing further qualifications of the London Naval Treaty! Conversations, jn which Japan might be ashed to participate, may be revived at Geneva o,n tbe resumption of the Disarmament Conference.” Since battleships have been banned, the correspondent expresses -the option that the British concern .is directed to four ten-thousand ton cruisers that are included in.-.the American Navy’s emergency 'public works construction. He records that an unofficial Navy statement is that Britain has been concentrating, on seven thousand ton cruisers end she would like a curtailment in the larger categories. Further reports state the U.S.ANavy are resentful of the ‘‘propaganda” which they alleged to be emanating, from London Tokio, and which is insisting that America has been building toward Treaty limits for several years, while America’s belated programme,' when completed, will leave the Navy below the Treaty strength.

SCHEDULE TO BE ADHERED TO

WASHINGTON, Septemebr 18. _ Reports from abroad that . Britain had. suggested to the United States the abandonment of the latter’s naval construction programme drew a definite disclaimer to-night from the Secretary of State (Senator Hull), while froirp the Naval quarters there came word that there is no intention either of altering or of holding up the £3B.million dollars building plan.