NAVY WEEK.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1921, Page 5

NAVY WEEK.

FACING THE BIG TASK. THE SUBMARINE QUESTION. SOME ACTION PROBABLE. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.) Received Nov. 27, 11.5 p.m. Washington, Nov. 26. Next week is expected to be naval week. The British and American naval advisers have practically completed ini’ vestigations, while the Japanese are still j examining figures, but the most satisi factory progress has been made towards 1 conclusions. There has been no undue j delay. j it is semi-officially. hinted that the I submarine question still plays a,large i part in the discussions. There is a grow- | ing opinion that the British share the 1 view to some extent with the Americans that it would be useless to restrict capital ships and at the same time to ; sanction th- creation of an underseas j navy with almost as much potentiality ■ for harm. This would be disastrous m the cause of peace. The week-gnd brought forward a crop of contradictions, various delegations denying rumors that there was friction between any of them. This afternoon there were signs of a deadlock between the United .States and Japan on the subject of the tonnage ratio of capital ships. It is authoritatively stated the United States will see no reason to depart from the original proposition, while it is known Japan :s straining every nerve to keep the Mutsu from being scrapped. Meanwhile, consideration of the questions of submarine tonnage and auxiliary craft have been postponed, but the American spokesman pointed out that when an | agreement is reached respecting capital ships the rest of the naval plan would follow automatically. INTERVIEW WITH LORD BEATTY. “SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED.” j Received Nov. 27, 11.5 p.m. Ottawa. Nov. 26. Lord Beatty, in a speech, said that if the Washington Conference closed its doors to-morrow it would have accomplished something towards releasing the world from the great burden of armament and the taxation it involves. Me added that his very presence in Ottawa indicated that all goes well at tnp conference.

Lord Beatty added: “The limits of the proposed Hughes plan are not derogatory to the dignity of the great Empire to which we belong, and the Empire on the sea will be as safe in the future as she has been in the past. Many questions will be worked out. Ihe great achievements desired cannot be accomplished in a day. but that they will be achieved is signally proved by rhe spirit of harmony ruling at Washington to-day.