NAVAL CONFERENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 7

NAVAL CONFERENCE

LATE IN JANUARY.

INVITATIONS NOT ISSUED. PREPARATORY WORK NECESSARY. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association—United Service) Received September 19, 10.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 18. It was learned authoritatively today that there would be no joint invitations issued on behalf of Britain and the United States. Colonel Stimson, Secretary of the Navy, stated that despatches emanating from London that Mr Ramsay MacDonald had already sent invitations through the British Embassies at Tokio. Paris and Rome were without authorisation and were entirely inaccurate. Invitations from the British Government would go to the United States, Japan, France and Italy, and it was now proposed to hold the conference in London late in January, though the exact time had yet to be determined. Colonel Stimson added:— “Considerable preparatory work must be done before the invitations are sent forward through the British Embassies. Maybe that action will be deferred until after Mr Ramsay MacDonald has conferred with President Hoover at Washington on the points still in controversy between the United States and Britain on the cruiser question.” President Hoover is believed to be well satisfied with the progress made toward further limitation of naval armaments. If an agreement in principle is reached between the United States and Britain it will be ratified by the other three major naval Powers through limitation programmes for them consonant with tho British and American reductions. The belief exists here that r a much more substantial reduction will be possible at the expiration of the Washington Treaty in 1936. By that time tile navies of the world would have become stabilised under such an agreement as might be worked out at the projected conference, and it would be possible to survey all categories of ships with a view to further limitation. Officials claim that an agreement in principle between Britain and America would end competition, which of itself would result in smaller cruiser fleets and a groat saving to Britain and the United States.

MISGIVING IN FRANCE. EYE ON ITALY. EVER-PRESENT APPREHENSION. (Times Cables.) LONDON, Sept. 18. The Governments of Britain and the United States have invited the Governments of France, Italy and Japan to participate in a Five-Power Naval Disarmament Conference at London in the third week in January. An accompanying Note states that the British and United States Governments will submit cheir preliminary proposals to the full conference. The Note also emphasises that a favourable result is not obtainable without the full and sympathetic co-operation of France, Italy and Japan, especially on the question of limiting the tonnage of destroyers and submarines. Meanwhile, according to news from Paris, tlio prospect of the new Naval Conference is viewed misgivingly by those responsible for the French naval policy, who clearly would prefer to remain aloof, especially as it involves the delicate question of relations with Italy. There is the ever-present apprehension that any agreement between Britain and America, with Japan proportionately acquiescent, would be at the expense of French security, forcing the French navy into a position something approaching parity with Italy, whose problems of defence are totally different. The French scliemo of defence is based on a geographical position involving sea connections -with both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with strategical problems including besides coast defence, the protection of sea communications between Marseilles and Algiers, and between Brest and It is' argued that if France is placed on an equalitv with Italy it will mean that only sufficient light sea forces will be available for the defence of one or other of these routes, not both, thus implying a -weakening of France s position in the Mediterranean and a corresponding increase in Italy s influence.

PRANCE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN.

"WILL NOT COUNTENANCE INFERIORITY. (Australian. Press Association.) PARIS, Sept. 18. Press comment on the naval agreement between Britain and America is to the effect that there is no objection to these Powers making arrangements between themselves, but France will not give up her submarine fleet, nor consent to any form of parity which will result in French inferiority in the Mediterranean.

MR MacDONALD’S TOUR. VISIT TO CANADA. (Australian Press Association—United Service.) OTTAAVA. Sept. 17. Mr Ramsay MacDonald will leave Washington for Canada on October 15. Mr MacDonald will spend fo' r days in tire Dominion. He will be the guest of the Government of Canada at an official dinner, and will make a speech—-the only one during his sojourn. VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION. DRAFT CONVENTION POSTPONED. (Australian Press Association. —United Service.) Received September 19, 10 a.m. GENEVA, Sept. 18. The Third Committee to-day decided to postpone until 1930 consideration of the draft convention for financial assistance to States menaced by aggresThe committee passed a resolution to the effect that such convention was closely bound up with the problems of the definition of an aggressor, the prevention of war and the reduction of armaments.