NAVAL TREATY SIGNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 954, 23 April 1930, Page 1

NAVAL TREATY SIGNED

Ceremony at St. James’s Palace

A PATIENT EFFORT CROWNED

Big Step Made Toward Peace

TIIE three-Power Naval Treaty, embracing heavy armament limitations and a saving to the British taxpayers estimated at many millions, has been signed in London. Critics of the Naval Conference temper satisfaction at the three-Power agreement with disappointment that a more tangible step toward complete disarmament was not taken. The laurels for the limited success of the parley, however, are handed Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, British Prime Minister.

United P..4.— 8y Telegraph — Copyright Reed. 11.10 a.m. LONDON, Tues. The Three-Power Pact was signed at. 12.40 p.m., Mr. PI. L. Stimson iU.S.A.) appenuding the first signature.

Whatever the disappointment that France and Italy were not encompassed within the whole treaty provisions found no expression at the final plenary session at St. James’s Palace. The speeches "made were full of optimism, everyone giving a word of benediction for the renewal of Franco-Italian negotiations, of which Mr. Ramsay MacDonald afterwards gave a hint. Each delegation signed the treaty in a vellum book. Mr. Stimson, American Secretary of State, used his own gold pen, and the others used one which was later presented to Mr. MacDonald. Mr. Wilford (New Zealand). however, chose a plain businesslike black pen-holder lying on the table. The full text of the treaty was circulated immediately after the signing. This evening. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in a broadcast speech, said: "We have done something to improve the prospects of peace upon earth. Now it is all over I can say in the firmest conviction that if what has been done is immediately used to prepare the public mind to do more, the conference will have proved a great landmark, showing how the nations are approaching a state of abiding peace.” CONFERENCES ACHIEVEMENT Commenting on the conference, the ‘ Daily Herald” says the Naval Conference achieved a limitation, not a reduction, in armaments. The satisfaction at its limited success, it says must be chastened by a consciousness of its wider failure, because the task, to which the Powers pledged themselves at Versailles, has not yet begun. “The conference and the treaty must not be regarded as a goal but as a starting point,” the paper adds. The “Daily Express,” in an editorial, says:—“The conference was a success compared with previous failures, and a failure compared with some of the hopes it inspired) That must be the final judgment on an ambitious and memorable venture, but to the principal actor. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, can go nothing but laurels.” The “Daily Express” adds that the reductions in battleships mean that 4,000 fewer officers and men will be wanted in the active fleet in the next two years. As a result of the Naval Treaty the savings to the taxpayers will total £100,000,000, and the saving in building costs will be £66,000.000, spread over 10 years, in maintenance. On the contrary, there will be less employment in dockyards shipbuilding. The reductions in personnel will fall most heavily on officers who are now aged 35, of whom from 4,000 to 5.000 have no chance of promotion. The

men will be reduced by restricting entries. “Le Temps’’ says Italy’s demand for parity made a general agreement impossible, but the conference ended better than was supposed a few weeks ago. France retains liberty of action and the right to watch over her own defences. “Le Journal Des Debats” says: "Without Italy’s demands the agreement would have been more comprehensive, but these were not the nature and cause of a complete breakdown. The differences can be settled eise where than in London. “The main thing is not to allow them to make worse Franco-Italian relations.” The Naval Conference showed that the British Government has learned the lesson that it pays to take the Press into its confidence. This adds significance to the compliment Mr. MacDonald paid to the journalists for their help given in a spirit of restraint, and also explains the unanimous vote of thanks to the journalists and to the Foreign Office experts, Sir Arthur Willert and Mr. George Steward, who for seven days a week assisted the journalists. DISPOSING OF TREATY At the opening of the final plenary session of the Conference this morning, Mr. MacDonald explained that the original draft treaty contained a see ond part dealing with a method in relation to the computing of tonnages between the statements submitted some time ago by France and Britain at Geneva. An agreement had not been possible at Geneva, but had been reached at this conference. It was felt, after further consideration, that the best way to deal with that part of the draft treaty would be for him, as chairman, to transmit it to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, Sir Eric Drummond, and ask him to draw the special attention of the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament to it as the finding of this conference. It -would be accompanied by an explanatory letter. The conference had agreed to that suggestion. Mr. MacDonald said the Washington Treaty provided for a further conference within eight years of its signature of 1931. As a matter of fact this conference had anticipated the 1931 conference which, therefore, would not be held. The work of this conference would be carried on and the next conference v'ould be held in 1935 unless events in the meantime took place of such a happy character as would make it unnecessary. That had been agreed to. Mr. MacDonald said the heads of the delegations had decided that the most convenient titles would be “London Naval Conference” and “London Naval Treaty of 1930.” This was approved.