Naval Yardstick

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 857, 28 December 1929, Page 9

Naval Yardstick

POWERS’ VARIOUS DESIRES Common Denominator Sought FRANCE WANTS TOTAL TONNAGE LIMIT United P..1. —8y Telegraph—Copyright Received 9 a.ui. PARIS, Friday. THE text is published of the French Government’s memorandum which was communicated to the five Powers which will be represented at the forthcoming Naval Conference.'

After a reference to tile importance of sea communications to both Britain and France, it asks: “Is it possible for the Mediterranean Powers to arrive at an agreement, with mutual guarantees of non-aggression, in which the other Powers which will not be represented at the conference, notably Spain, would be represented?” Dealing with the general issue, the French memorandum on naval armaments indicates a preference for limitation by total tonnage, but declares France’s readiness to adhere to a compromise regulating a distribution of tonnage among different classes of ships. France’s policy is declared to be interdependence of armaments. She hopes not to be obliged to deal with questions relating to the fixing of land and air armaments, but cannot held pointing out that a tonnage adequate in its naval requirements stands in close relation to the general level of armaments. It is added that these difficulties will not prevent France from seeking a solution which would enable the Powers so doing to enter a mutual agreement without waiting for the conclusion of an agreement for the limitation of all armaments.

The memorandum contends that the reduction of armaments should be based on Article VIII. of the League Covenant.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, says he will devote the entire mornings to work in connection with the Five Powers Naval Conference during his stay at Lossiemouth. The chief business at Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s preliminary meeting of the Naval Conference delegates on January 20 will be the choice of a chairman, who most likely will be a British delegate. The Australian Press Association is able to reveal that among America’s minute preparations for the conference was an inquiry whether Australia, New Zealand and Canada as naval Dominions have separate votes, or whether the British Commonwealth will vote as a unit. The British reply made it clear that the conference is not regarded as one at which matters are decided by vote, but it is one of negotiation, in the hope of registering unanimous agreements.

This official intimation, coupled with the knowledge of the Franco-Italian disagreements, strengthened the impression in London that the likeliest result of the conference is an AngloAmerican agreement something on the lines of Mr. MacDonald’s discussions with President Hoover. FRANCE’S DEMAND LONDON PARLEY SECONDARY TO LEAGUE WORK JAPAN’S RATIO REQUEST Reed. 10.33 a.m. WASHINGTON, Fri. The Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, asked the French Embassy for a copy of the statement on naval policy, in which the Tardieu Government demanded that the London Conference be made secondary to the League of Nations disarmament programme.

Mr. Stimson refused to comment on the French statement as it appeared in the Press, or on dispatches from Japan revealing that the United States and Britain had refused to accept Tokyo’s proposal for a ten-ten-seven ratio in auxiliary vessels. Mr. Stimson said he did not believe that pub-

lie discussion of those problems would be conducive to success at London.

By inference, however, Mr. Stimson admitted that the United States had parried the Japanese request for 70 per cent, of the American cruiser, destroyer and submarine tonnage. Such action would be in line with expectations that Japan’s original proposal was not final. , PEACE TALK UNPOPULAR HEROIC TRUMPET CALLS PREFERRED PARIS, Thursday. “It is easier to make the nation listen to heroic trumpet calls than to words of peace,” declared the Foreign Minister, M. Briand, in defending the policy of Locarno in the Chamber of Deputies. “A policy of peace is not impressive enough. It engenders anxiety,” he added. JAPANESE DELEGATES WELCOMED ON ARRIVAL AT LONDON Reed. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Friday. The Japanese delegates to the Naval Conference arrived in London and were welcomed on behalf of the Cab inet and the Admiralty. An ex-Premier of Japan, Mr. Wakatsuki, who heads the delegation, emphasised the pacific nature of Japan’s policy, and her readiness to accept naval strength Inferior to Great Britain’s.

“We will do all in our power to smooth the conference’s path. Our people and our Government are united in desiring a successful conference, and not merely limitation, but also reduction of naval armaments. Japan has never thought of aggression. All she asks is security."