Way Clear for Parley

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 9

Way Clear for Parley

DISARMAMENT IN NAVIES Dominions Give Assent FRANCE RAISES A DIFFICULTY British Official 'Wireless Received Noon. RUGBY, Tuesday. HEPLIES have now been received in London from all . Dominion Governments acquiescing in the issue of invitations to a five-Power naval conference to be held in London the second week in January. It is expected that the invitations will be sent in a few days.

Referring to the disarmament problem in a speech at Hove last night, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, said the ultimate aim of the Government was the reduction of naval armaments to the status of a peaceful force for protection of the shipping routes of the world. There was every possibility of an agreement being reached with America and this would not only be helpful to both countries, but would have a great and beneficial effect in helping on the movement for world peace. He assured the public that the Admiralty had rallied behind the Prime Minister in giving effect to his policy to reduce armaments and had rendered the Government every assistance in making the necessary arrangements.

A Press Association message says that a special correspondent of the Daily Express” on board the Berengaria says he understands that one of the difficulties the Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, and the President of the United States, Mr. Hoover, will have to meet is a new claim by France. This is that for the purposes of naval tonnages her colonies

shall rank equal with the British Dominions. Furthermore, says the correspondent, France wants the same Mediterranean strength as Italy, which is concentrating upon fast cruisers. A GREAT WELCOME AMERICA PREPARES FOR HER VISITOR Australian and N.Z Press Association NEW YORK, Monday. The Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, the British Ambassador, Sir Esrne Howard, and other notable people will meet Mr. MacDonald and his party at New York on Friday morning. The Visitors are to be escorted to the City Hall, where they will receive the key to the city. They will leave for Washington by special train. An elaborate programme of luncheons and dinners has been arranged for Mr. MacDonald during his stay in New York on October 11-13. He is to leave for Canada on October -14