DISARMAMENT PLANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 67, 29 December 1928, Page 5

DISARMAMENT PLANS.

COMMISSION CONVENED. FIRST MEETING FOR TWO YEARS. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.4 P a.m.) GENEVA, December 28. The preliminary Commission on disarmament has been convened for April 15. This is tbe first meeting for two years.—Australian Press Association, United Service.

-QRUISER CONSTRUCTION BILL. POSITION OF ITS OPPONENTS. (Received' This Day, 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, December 28. Opposition to the Navy Cruiser Construction Bill will continue regardless of the success or failure of the Kellogg Peace Treaty. So far the opponents of the Bill axe calling for the construction of 15 cruisers and one aeroplane carrier. They have confined themthemselves to a fight for action on the Treaty ahead of the Navy measure, but now they are preparing to continue the battle, even if the Peace Pact is ratified before the debate on the Bill closes. They are unlikely to be able to prevent its passage, but there is a possibility that they may succeed in reducing the number of ships authorised by the Bill as it was passed by the House of Representatives last session, because many Senators who did not oppose naval construction would vote for modification. —Australian Press Association.

UNITED STATES’ ATTITUDE

SEEKING ACCEPTABLE BASIS. (Received This Dav, 12.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 28. Continued United States participation in tlie discussions of the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference at Geneva on April .15 would seem assured, from indications at the State Department, although official notification of the meeting has not been received. Unless there has been projected some satisfactory proposal for cruiser limitation, Administration officials have little hope of concrete progress from the meeting of the Commission. . ' America’s position regarding cruisers and submarines is said to be unchanged from that urged at the ThreePower Conference at Geneva in 1927. The Government, however, has expressed its willingness to use its best efforts to obtain a basis for further naval limitation satisfactory to all Powers. The United! States is described as willing to consider, in any conference, the special needs of France and Italy, or any other Power, for a particular class of vessel deemed most suitable for their defence. This attitude was expressed by Mr R. B. Kellogg (Secretary of State) in response to the Franco-British compromise.— Australian Press Association, United Service.