NAVAL LIMITATION

Wairarapa Age, 2 March 1927, Page 5

NAVAL LIMITATION

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE’S INVITATION.

GREAT BRITAIN’S REPLY.

EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

LONDON, March 28. In answer to a question by Mr. J. R. MacDonald, Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Commons, relative to the United. States Invitation to a conference on the limitation of naval armaments, Sir Austen Chamberlain read the following reply sent to President Coolidge:— “The Government of Great Britain has received with cordial sympathy the United States Government’s invitation to partake of a conversation at Geneva on tho further limitation of naval armaments. The British Government’s views upon the special geographical position of tho British Empire, the length of inter-imperial communications, and the necessity for the protection of its food supply, are well known, and together with the special conditions and requirements of other countries invited to participate in the conversation, must be taken into account. Britain, nevertheless, is prepared to consider the e«tent to which the principles adopted at the Washington Conference can be carried further, either as regards the ratio of the different classes of ships between the various Powers, or in other important ways. “The British Government, therefore, accepts the United States’s invitation, and will do her best to secure the success of the proposed conversation. They would, however, observe that the relationship of such conversation to the proceedings of the Preparatory Committee of tho League of Nations, at Geneva, would require careful adjustment.”

Sir Austen added that the terms of the reply had been concurred in by all the Governments of the Empire except the Irish Free State, which hitherto had not replied to the British inquiry. —(A. and N.Z.).

STRENGTH IN CRUISERS.

IN 1914 AND TO-DAY.

LONDON, February 28.

In a written answer as to the relative position of the Powers in regard to cruisers in 1914 and 1927, Mr Headlam gave a written answer showing the following position on January 1, 1914, and January 1, 1927, respectively:—

The British figures included six Dominion ships in 1914 and four in 1927. — (A. and N.Z.).

ONLY PRELIMINARY.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN PROBLEMS

(Received Tuesday, 7 p.m.). LONDON, March 1.

“The Times,” in a leader, says: “The Government obviously is right in accepting President Coolidge’s invitation to a Disarmament Conference. Nevertheless, it can only be a preliminary conference to consider concrete American proposals. America’s problems are simple compared with those of the British Empire. Therefore it is obvicus that the Empire cannot bind itseif. The Government is not committed to do more than discuss further naval armament restrictions.”—(The “Times.”).

1014 1927 Britain . 112 48 United States .. . 35 , 32 France 32 32 Italy . 23 14 Japan . 34 33