NAVAL CONFERENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 84, 20 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

THREE MAIN ISSUES. THE QUESTION OF SUBMARINES LTALO-FRENCH PARTTY. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. The first effective work of the Naval Conference will be done on Moi\'ay morning, when the heads of delegations meet to settle the procedure ior the opening session. The "Observer's" diplomatic writer sets out the main controversial issues. First, France and Japan are rigidly opposed to the demand by Britain and America for abolition of submarines. Secondly, Japan is likely to soften her opposition to the abolition of the submarine to an extent if the British Empire and the United States will do the same to Japan's claim, for the 10-10-7 ratio instead of the 5-4-3 T'atio for cruisers.

Thirdly, should Italy's demand for parity with France be discontinued, there is a rumour that Signor Grandi contemplates an early gesture, similar to M. Litvinoff's at Geneva, in favour of the total abolition of navies. It is considered that Italy may ultimately make such a demand if parity with France is not obtainable by other means.

FACING DIFFICULT PROBLEM. OPINION OF M. BRTAND. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. M. Briand (Premier of France) has arrived in London. He expressed the opinion that the conference was facing a difficult problem, stating, "There will be as much to do outside as inside the Conference room. I am hoping to return to Paris within 10 days, after the appointment of expert committees. Thereafter M. Tardieu and I shall alternate between London and Paris."

COMPLETE DISARMAMENT. NEW PROPOSAL BY ITALY. LONDON, January 18. Tlie > "Daily Mail" gives prominence to a telegram ftpm Geneva to the effect that 'Signor Grandi's speech on Tuesday may he as startling as Mr Hughes's speech at Washington in 1921.

Signor Mussolini wants his delegate to announce startling proposals, which are that Italy is prepared, if the other nations follow suit, to scrap practically her entire fleet. The Italian Government realises that any agreement at the Conference will leave Italy one of the weakest naval Powers; accordingly, complete naval disarmament is obviously to her advantage. The financial position of Italy makes naval parity with France an idle dream. Apart from this opening gesture, Signor Grandi will offer support to any American demand for drastic reductions. Signor Mussolini considers it intolerable that strong Powers should be able to leave their weaker brethren in a state of hopeless inferiority."

REDUCTIONS IN BATTLESHIPS.

PROPOSALS BY UNITED STATES

NEW YORK, January 18

The "Herald-Tribune's" Washington correspondent states that in an advance announcement of its formal policy by the American delegation at London, it was learned officially to-day that r,he United States was prepared, not only to declare a five years' "bat: tleship holiday," but to scrap permanently 11 capita] ships which would become obsolete at the end of the "holiday." It can be announced on the same high authority that as an alternative to a drastic reduction in the battleship fleets, the United States is prepared fro recommend a reduction in the authorised size of capital ships from 35,000 tons to considerably less than 25,000, the lowest figure yet proposed by Britain for capital ships of the future.

AMERICAN DELEGATES.

WELCOMED IN LONDON. LONDON, January 17. Mr H. L. Stimson (Secretary of State), Mr Charles F. Adams (Secretary of the Navy), Mr Dwight-Morrow (United States Ambassador in Mexico), and Senators Robinson and Reed. Untied States delegates to the Naval Conference, reached Plymouth this morning, and were welcomed at 'the quayside by General Dawes, the American Ambassador, who is himself one of the delegates, the Mayor, and other civic dignitaries of Plymouth, and Admiral Sir Hubert Brand.

All the- delegates expressed keen satisfaction that the King was now sufficiently well to honour the delegations by addressing them at the opening meeting on Tuesday'. / Mr Stimson and the other members of the American delegation were received en their arrival at Paddingtow Station, London, this afternoon, by Mr Arthur Henderson (Foreign Secretary), Mr A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty), Sir Robert _ Vansittart (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs). Mr Craigie (head of the American Department of the Foreign Office), and Mr Malcolm MacDoniald, son of the Prime Minister, who represented his father. There was a large crowd of the general public on the platform. Within about an hour Mr Stimson was received by the Ptime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street. Their conversation lasted'just three hours. .. Tlie Italian delegation, headed by Signer Dino Grandi (Under-Secretary for Foreign' Affairs) arrived at Victoria Station, London, later in the day. They were received by Mr Henderson, Sir Robert Vansittart", Mr Craigie, and Mr Malcolm MacDonald.—British Official Wireless.

PRETTY TYPISTS. LONDON, January 18. Seventeen of America's prettiest tvpists, attired in Washington's latest fashions, arrived with the American

Naval Delegation, and are (setting oven greater publicity than the other 90odld members of the party, several ot whom characteristicallv claim descent from the original Mayfair passengers It has been revealed that the delegation's ship carried its own beerbrewing plant, until the 'publicity given to it caused the State Department of Washington to wireless, "Throw the brewery overboard." They did so. Seven of the "chirks," as the girls describe themselves, belong to the State Department, and ten to the Navy Department. "There was an awful scramble lor this job," thev explained. "Hundreds and hundreds applied, and we are thrilled to death." ~',-, It is stated that the whole delegation pooled its resources, amounting to £4O 000. The living expenses of the pa.rtvi at the Ritz and Mayfair Hotels are estimated at £IOOO a clay.

HISTORIC ROYAL GALLERY. PREPARATIONS FOR MEETING. LONDON, January 18. Loss than one-seventh of the space in the Roval Gallery at the House ol Lords will be occupied by the delegates' horseshoe table, at the opening of the conference on Tuesday. The remainder will lie crammed tight to accommodate the 380 journalists from all parts of the world. There is no room to supply tables for them so they will have to write on their knees. .„ ... The gallery is a magnificent setting for the'eonfe'renco. It has gold, knotted scarlet panels, pikled friezes, imposing paintings im which there is a striking association and contrast of the epic martial events of history with the present world attempt to escape from the more fearsome modern methods ot destruction. The delegates will sit immediately beneath a huge mural canvas of Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar, and facing them will be another, the "Battle of Waterloo. The opening of the conference will be a wonderful occasion, to winch the whole world will be listeners it the atmospherics behave themselves.