Grave Tasks Ahead

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 868, 11 January 1930, Page 9

Grave Tasks Ahead

Mission of Naval Delegates TALKS AT DOWNING STREET Americans Optimistic for Success British Official Wireless Received 11.36 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. FURTHER conversations took place this morning at Downing Street between the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and the Japanese delegation to the Five-Power Naval Conference. Progress was made in a discussion of the various questions of special interest to Japan and Great Britain, which will come before the Naval Conference.

Mr. R. AVakatsukl, head of the Japanese delegation, said: “We come with high hopes and the firm resolve to exert our best efforts toward making the naval limitation reduction a reality.” Mr. Wakatsuki went on: “No country feels more acutely than Japan the paramount heed of peaceful development. She desires to devote the whole of her energies to the pursuits of peace for the good of ourselves and the rest of the world.” ITALY’S PLAN REJECTED FRANCE DISAGREES WITH SEA EQUALITY DEADLOCK THREATENED ROME, Friday. The French reply to the Italian naval proposals, which were based on the equality of sea forces, rejects them, and insists on a limitation based on a statement by each Power outlining the programme of construction for any period covered by an agreement which may be reached at the London conference. Italy considers that such proposals would inevitably lead to an increase instead of a decrease of armaments. Tile deadlock is producing pessimism regarding the Franco-Italian problem, but hope is entertained that th» Italian suggestions will be more successful at London. FRANCE SPREADS OUT NEW NAVAL STATIONS EACH HAS ITS DIVISION PARIS, Thursday. The new official disposition of the French naval forces creates four new stations, Pacific, Indian Ocean, West Africa and the Antilles. Each station will henceforth have its own permanent division, corresponding to the British squadrons in China and the West Indies. FORECAST OF SUCCESS AMERICANS CHEERED AS SHIP LEAVES OPTIMISTIC ADMIRAL NEW YORK, Thursday. The liner George Washington, in which the late President Wilson sailed

to France for the Treaty of Versailles, left New York today bearing the Cabinet Ministers, ambassadors, admirals, civilian secretaries, clerks and statisticians who will represent America at the Five Powers Naval Conference.

A great crowd on the quay cheered each delegate as he arrived, and the other passengers lining the rails of the ship took up the cries as the delegates and their aides hurried on board. The last to arrive was the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson. In the last hour before sailing there were optimistic words for the Press. Forecasts of the success of the conference and expressions of confidence were all delivered with an undercurrent of obvious consciousness of the gravity of the task ahead. No one, however, was more optimistic than Admiral Pratt, who said: “There are no technical difficulties in the way of the conference. We should sail home with an agreement in two months’ time.” Mr. J. T. Robinson said: “It would be deplorable if the conference failed, but failure would be preferable to arrangements consummated through intrigue.” Mr. D. A. Reed said: “There will be less diplomacy exhibited at this conference than at any international meeting yet held.” Dispatches from Washington indicate that the American Government has reacted very favourably to the statement made by the British Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, who said: “We shall deal with every class of warship from dreadnoughts to submarines. Britain is prepared to propose a considerable reduction in naval programmes. It is well known that President Hoover wishes for an actual reduction in building, not a mere fixing of limitations. While it is nade clear that the American delegaticffi will probably not be sympathetic to a possible proposal to reduce the size of capital ships beyond 25,000 tons, or to eliminate them completely, it will, nevertheless, approve a reduction below 35,000 tons, and an increase in the active life of ships from 20 to 25 years. The American delegation, moreover, will approve of drastic reductions in destroyers and submarines. As concerns cruisers, the hope of Mr. Hoover is that the American strength can be kept down to 300,000 tons.