Hopeful Of Success

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 9

Hopeful Of Success

MOMENTOUS PREPARATIONS Naval Delegates In London PROBLEM OF ARMS REDUCTION United r.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Received Noon. LONDON, Friday. THE American delegation to the Five-Power Naval Conference, which is to open on Tuesday, has arrived in London. “Thanks for welcoming a pilgrim back to Plymouth. AN e come full of high hopes and earnest endeavour to make the conference a success.” This was all Mr. Stimson had to say on his arrival on the boat at dawn. About 1,000 people are coming to London in connection with the conference.

A British official wireless message says Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary of State, Mr. C. F. Adams, Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Morrow, United States Ambassador in Mexico, and Senators Robinson and Reed, United States delegates to the Conference, were welcomed at the quayside at Plymouth by General Dawes, American Ambassador in London, who is himself one of the delegates, the 'Mayor and other civic dignatories of Plymouth, and Admiral Hubert Brand. All the delegates Expressed keen satisfaction that King George was now sufficiently well to honour the delegations by addressing them at Tuesday's opening meeting. The members of the American delegation were received on their arrival at Paddington Station, London, this afternoon, by Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Robert Vansittart, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. L. Craigie, head of the American Department of the Foreign Office, and Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, son of the Prime Minister, who represented his father. There was a large crowd of the general public on the platform. Within about an hour of the arrival Mr. Stimson was received by the Prime Minister at Downing Street. Their conversation lasted just over three hours. The Italian delegation, heaoed by Signor Grandi, arrived at Victoria Station, London, later in the day. They were received by Mr. Arthur Henderson, Sir Robert Vansittart, Mr. R. L. Craigie and Mr. Malcolm MacDonald. . , . .. There is to he no ceremonial at the opening of the Naval Conference on Tuesday. His Majesty King George V. enters at 11 a.m. and immediately delivers his opening speech. Then there will be speeches by the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and otlier leaders. The session is expected to end at 1 p.m. Mr. J. E. Fenton, the Australian delegate to the conference, conferred with Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr Fenton did not comment except to say he was sure the Empire was harmonious on the main points, which would be an important advance in new peace ideals. CROWDS OF EXPERTS ATTENDING DELEGATES LONDON, Friday. Thirty delegates will meet in the conference chamber on Tuesday. Behind each will be naval experts, official advisers, political, private and departmental secretaries, and typists. Twenty-two admirals will he in' attendance. The seven United States delegates will be accompanied by 100 experts and secretaries, 20 women typists and 40 journalists. Many of the delegates are bringing their wives, who no doubt will enjoy a period of shopping and sight-see-ing.

The Americans have taken the two top floors at the Ritz Hotel. The Japanese delegates are staying at

Grosvenor House and also have taken a house round the corner for their organisation. It will be a change for those who attend the conference to have English as the official language. It is expected that the proceedings will be translated into French. REDUCTION WELCOMED SUPPORT FOR MACDONALD PLAN CONSERVATIVES CLAIM PRIORITY Reed. 12.15 p.m. RUGBY. Friday. In relation to Britain’s programme for the conference, it is pointed out that a proposal much to the same effect was made by the late Conservative Government at the Geneva Conference and met with a hopeful reception. Lord Bridgemau, former First Lcrd of the Admiralty, estimates that if it had been adopted it would have meant a saving of about £50,000,000 ill the period of replacement. “The Times” says: “No doubt the reductions advocated can hardly be as sweeping as both economists and an important section of naval opinion would hope to see them. The British Government is rightly sensitive to the danger of bringing forward too drastic proposals, which might wreck all chance of an agreement, but after long years during which, through unrestricted competition, the size and cost of every class of warship have soared continuously upward, an agreement to reverse the process at all would be a very welcome achievement.