IN FRIENDLY SPIRIT

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 69, 23 April 1929, Page 9

IN FRIENDLY SPIRIT

Australian Press Association.

United Service

AMERICA AND NA¥AL LIMITATIONS. Mr Gibson Outiines His Policy.

(Heceived 'J'bis Day. 1 p.m.> GENEVA, April 22. The morning's session of the Preparatory Commission transcended all its predeeessors in importanee by the faet that Alr Gibson outlined tbe new poliey of tlie United Statcs. He said that the United States adhered to the view that limitation of naval tonnage by categories was tbe siinplest and fairest way. It liad proved practical and satisfaetory in the Wasbiugton Treaty, wliieli allowed eaeli Pow^r to utilise tonnage in accordance with speeial necd.s. Ilowever, as that method was unacceptable to otliers, the United States sought a new method likely to lead to a naval eompromise generally aceeptable. Thercfore tlie United States was disposed to accept the French proposal and tbe French idea of specified tonnage for eaeli elass with the right of inereasing any elass by the transfer of tonnage from another. This allowed greater elasticity in tlie distribution of tonnage. It must be understood that this involved an agreement upon methods alone, not upon quantitivo tonuages or tlie actual percentage to be transi'erred from one oategory to another. Al. Litvinoff elairned that Alr Gibson's statement omunerated aome Soviet principles and thercfore he was gratified with it. Hi.s pessimism was incurable, however, unless concrete proposals were followed. Alr Loudon deelared that tlie speeehes would impnrt frcsli energy to the committee's work. General Alarinis, of Italy, pledged liis Government to co-oiierate cordially in disarmament. Alr Gibson said that tlie United States would give full and friendlv consideration to any supplenientary methods of limitation wliieli he reeentIv discussed with President Hoover, who felt that notliing would he effcctive unless it embraeod all elasses, including destroyers, cruisers and submarines. He added that a common oen.se agreement was what was reully wanted. based on tlio idea. that they were going to be friends nnd settle their problems by peaceful moans. Tbe reduction of armaments alone would be inoffectivo, unless it preceded a. clinnge of attitude in regard to tbe forceful settlement of disputos and permitted them to dispense with armaments wliieli hitherto had seemed essential. Lord Cnshenden, roplying, said he was in eomplete agreement with Afr Gibson. Tbe limitation statement was most important and would affect the wliole work of tlie commission.