NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17980, 27 March 1930, Page 7

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

A CHANGED TONE ALL DELEGATES HOPEFUL. TWO IMPORTANT FACTS. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. —Copyright. LONDON, March 25. During tile day the general outlook of the Naval Conference changed completely, every delegation to-night openly avowing renewed hope that the Conference as a quintette will yet he saved. No single decision or firm concessionary offer is at present reported, but Air Stimson and Air MacDonald in a momentous talk in the morning seemed to have resolved to make a final concerted attempt to get back to fundamentals and pull tilings together. Later, after a meeting of the heads ol delegations, At. Dumesnil, acting for AI. Briand, the tone of both the communique and semi-official announcements took a totally different character from that expected before yesterday’s proposals for a six months’ adjournment. Emphasis must he laid on two important facts vouchsafed for semiofficially—first, the Italian adjournment proposal was not even mentioned at the afternoon meeting; secodly, that next week’s plenary session was specifically and officially described as a plenary session of hope, not of desperation. Neither Paris nor Rome lias yet reported any concrete development justifying what is described here as the last fillip of official hopefulness, but well-informed observers are linking up the more conciliatory lone of At. Briand’s announcement with the French press admissions that a IhreePowcr Treaty would nowise suit France. In oilier words, the pressure of circumstances which are isolating her as the chief obstacle to disarmament are at last beginning to dawn on Paris. BRITAIN BLAMED. AIR. BRITTEN’S OUTBURST. WASHINGTON, Alarch 25. Air. Britton, chairman of Hie Naval Committee of the House of Representatives, in a further statement, said Hie conference had “ blown up.” He asserted that there was no prospect of a three Powers agreement and even an Anglo-American treaty would not be permitted by Hie British Admiralty. The best interests of the American Navy called for a complete adjournment of the conference now, while the very life and continuation in office of the .MacDonald Government might depend upon a recess rather than a fiasco. A six mouths’ recess would mean the continued arbitrary dominion of the seas by Britain. In any future European emergency the British Navy would repeat its “ indefensible and unlawful attacks of the World War upon all neutral commerce.” American interests would suffer serious losses, probably confiscation by the London prize courts. The public of America should not be beguiled into the belief that Italy or France was responsible for the latest “ fizzle.” FRANCE’S PACIFIC ROLE. SAFEGUARDING HER COLONIES. THE SECURITY PROBLEAI. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. —Copyrigin. PARIS, Alarch 25. In the course of a debate on the .Budget in the Senate the Foreign .Minister, AI. Briand, said France had played a pacific role throughout Hie Naval Conference without losing sight of the country’s security. An international assurance against an aggressor was the only solid basis for peace. France had not built a single ton of capital ships since the Washington Treaty, but she wished to safeguard tier large colonial Empire in the negotiations at the conference. lie had not given up hope of seeing the security problem dealt with successfully. LATER. BACK AT BUSINESS. AI. BRIAND IN LONDON. IMPORTANT MEETING PENDING. (Official Wireless.) (Received Alarch 27, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 26. The French Foreign Alinister, AI. Briand, arrived in London to-night to resume work in connection with the London Naval Conference, lie was met by the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, Right Hon. A. Henderson. The Prime Minister will preside over a meeting of delegations which has been called for to-morrow afternoon, and in view of the developments which have occurred since Hie beginning of last week, when the principal members of the French delegation left for Paris, much importance is attached to the meeting. * Air 11. L- Stimson, head of the American delegation had a further long conversation with Air Ramsay AlacDonald at the House of Commons this afternoon. BRITISH SPOKESMAN’S STATEMENT “ NOTHING, GENTLEMEN.” LONDON, Alarch 20.' A crowded gathering of journalists confronted the British spokesman, who began discouragingly, with “ Nothing gentlemen.” He added: “Naturally, as a result of AI. Briand’s speech, the question of the pact is very much in the air.” He did not presume to interpret Hie other delegations’ views. Personally he would not say there was any change in the British policy. Certainly Air. AlacDonald had not made suggestions in the conference, and the subject did not arise at yesterday’s meeting of the heads. They must await developments tilt M. Briand returns. lie and Hie other delegates may meet to-morrow afternoon. '