THE CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1921, Page 5

THE CONFERENCE

PRIVATE MEETINGS, V THE SUBMARINE PROBLEM. QUESTION OF REDUCTION, LIMITING THEIR USE. Br Telegraph.—Pres* Assn —Copyright Received Nov. 17, 7.30 p.m. Washington, Nov. 15. With both committees sitting secretly comment and discussion today turned chiefly to the question of a reduction of submarine tonnage. Some technical circles in Washington argue that the reduction proposed by Mr. A. J. Balfour (Britain) is too drastic, asing familiar arguments regarding defence )f eoastline and harbors in support of the United States’ case for 90.000 tons, but it is difficult to see how the United States’ x>siuon can be maintained. Those who are asking for disarmament cannot consistently refuse to accede to a request for a greater reduction than the}* themselves propose, especially seeing that America was the original objector to submarine warfare, as voiced By ex-Prseident Wilson at Veriailles. Taking the declaration of Admiral Kato (Japan) that Japan is not seeking an iffeasive navy, commentators conclude that ±e Japanese will side with the British on :his question. The probable solution will >e an agreement in connection with the 'eduction of the maximum tonnage of an ndividual submarine, with a view to their mployment only for coastal defence, thus eliminating the huge submarines which vere the outcome of the war. After a meeting of the British delegation •hi* afternoon to receive and discuss the progress reports of the naval advisers. Mr. j. F. Pearce (Australia) expressed lumself is well satisfied regarding the way in which things were shaping. OPINION IN PARIS. THE QUESTION OF ALLIANCES. Received Nov. 17, 5.5 pan. Paris, Nov. 16. The Washington Conference continues to hold public attention. Le Temps argues that ex-Presidenr Wilson was opposed to any alliance which guaranteed the independence and integrity of any country. Moreover, the United States to-day denounces all alliances. Le Temps continues: “Under this system each State must possess the force necessary to meet by itself a danger that it can reasonably foresee. It is likely that Britain will a«k for the suppression of the wide-range submarines. The Japanese Admiralty may ask for the suppression ' of naval bases which the United States is creating in the Pacific.” Le Temps concludes by urging that when the powers agree to limit armaments they should tacitly bind themselves to help one another when faced by a danger which limited armaments cannot evade.—Aus - JU. Cable Ann. H. G. WELLS’ VIEWS. New York. Nov. 16. Mr. H. G. Wells, writing to the New York World, lays: “Japan io peculiarly an obstacle to the practical and informal federation of the world to which we hope all things are moving. It occurs to me with added force that Japan is not a people trying to express itself through its Government, but the Government is a small ruling class effectively possessing the obedience of a loving people, and that smal] ruling class has a long tradition of romantic and chivalrous swordsmanship. “No one coud be more urgent than I for the complete disarmament of the entire world, but no one could be more convinced of the unwisdom of disarmament by America, or any other Power, while any single country maintains a spirit that must lead finally to the resumption of war. “Disarmament in such a situation is to leave trouble to accumulate upon our grand-children, and to patch up a peace based on the permitted extension of such a Power is simply to prepare for expanded war in future.”