GENEVA CONFERENCE FAILURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 116, 6 August 1927, Page 1

GENEVA CONFERENCE FAILURE

AMERICA’S NEW SCHEME UTILISING FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION

By

Cable.—Press Association . — Copyright.

Reed. 9.55 a.m. WASHINGTON, Friday. FOLLOWING the failure of the Geneva Conference, the Coolidge Administration's next disarmament activity is expected to be an effort to limit the world’s great navies through force of public opinion.

United States is already scheduled to call a five-Power conference early in 1931 under the terms of the Washington Treaty of 1921. Meantime, the officials intend to make limitation a subject for general discussion by the citizens of the United States and other countries, as well as by the officials. President Coolidge is expected to take a firm stand against the anticipated “Big Navy” campaign in the next Congress, although he favours reasonable increases. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr. C. D. Wilbur, is proceeding to Rapid City, South Dakota, to confer on the situation with the President, and also to discuss the next naval budget. The outstanding features of the situation noted here are: (1) The American officials are firm in holding Britain responsible for the failure of the conference. (2) At the same time they emphasise the good feeling between the two nations, apparently with the purpose of off-setting the Big Navy movement. (3) The bonds of friendship between the United States and Japan appear to be stronger than ever, the Oriental delegates having' supported the American proposals -of limitation. (4) The United States will continue to 'be inferior to Brtain in cruiser strength, but superior in destroyer strength, for several years at least.—A. and N.Z.