"WITHOUT PRECEDENT”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 527, 3 December 1928, Page 9

"WITHOUT PRECEDENT”

MR. BRITTEN’S NAVAL CONFERENCE PLAN IGNORED OFFICIALLY (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON. Sun. Following a conference between tiie Britisli Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard, and tile Secretary of State, Mr. F. B. Kellogg, the State Department announced on Saturday that the Ambassador had not submitted to the British Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, a reply for transmission to the chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr. F. A. Britten. Beyond stating that the proposal was without precedent, and that he and Mr. Kellogg were working in harmony on it, the Ambassador would not discuss the matter. He indicated, however, that he would not consider the transmission of a reply from the British Embassy to Mr. Britten, as this procedure would constitute a breach of diplomatic procedure, unless approved by the State Department. The State Department is reticent, except that it leaves the impression that the Department would ignore Mr. Britten’s communication. MR. BRITTEN’S STATEMENT Mr. F. A. Britten to-day made a statement on the subject. He said the people of England and the United States sincerely wanted their Governments to get together on the question of naval arms limitation. He felt that their desires would be gratified through the calling of another conference and he believed the public discussion of his proposal was doing much to bring one about. The Washington correspondent of the New York “Times” says officials expressed no surprise that Mr. Baldwin had turned a cold shoulder on Mr. Britten’s proposal, tl is realised in the capital that its acceptance would set a precedent which might cause trouble for the Government in the future. It has also been divulged that the State Department has been engaged for some time in discouraging quasinegotiations between American citizens and foreign Governments in respect to matters, in controversy or otherwise, about international relations. The officials disagreed emphatically with Mr. Britten’s statement to-day, incidentally justifying his message to Mr. Baldwin. WOULD NOT TOUCH IT The Washington correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” says the Secretary of State, Mr. F. B. Kellogg, politely hut firmly refused to accept Mr. Baldwin’s reply to Mr. Britten. The British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard, called to-day formally to deliver the message “through diplomatic channels.” Mr. Kellogg cordially greeted the Ambassador, but his greeting did not apply to the message he bore. Mr. Kellogg declined to touch it. No official version of the conversation has been disclosed, but it is understood, says tbe correspondent, that Mr. Kellogg informed Sir Esme that the United States would continue to handle its diplomatic negotiations without assistance from outsiders, even if one of the would-be negotiators was the chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee of the House, and even if the topic of diplomatic conversations related to naval affairs. Mr. Kellogg’s action was characterised by Mr. Britten this evening as exceedingly improper. He suggested that the Foreign Relations Committee of the House or the Senate might feel inclined to ask the Secretary of State by what authority he had taken that action.