NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 138, 24 March 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

DORMANT DURING WEEK-END. THE POSITION OF FRANCE. (United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day 9.10 a.m.) v LONDON, March 23. The Naval Conference was dormant during the week-end. Telegrams from Pans sate that mBriand (French Foreign Minister) will return on Tuesday or Wednesday No one appears to expect M. lardieu (Premier of France). The "Observer" says it is honest ot M Tardieu not to return The FivePower agreement, hoomed when no was here a week ago has not softened the French policy. What can be saved is a Three-Power treaty, which would have an immense, perhaps a decisive importance. Even an Anglo-Ameri-can treaty itself would maintain the peace of the world. THE FRENCH VIEWPOINT. CONFERENCE NOT ABANDONED. / (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. The Paris correspondent of 'The Times" says that the British Ambassador (Sir William Tyrrell) and M. Briand (Foreign Minister) discussed the Naval Conference position, the former explaining how, according to the British Government's viewpoint, the absence of M. Tardieu and M. Briand affected the negotiations. M Briand explained that he never intended to abandon the Conference. He would be ready to return when urgent local affairs liberated him lhe actual date of his return must be determined by developments m Lonum, but he saw no necessity for returning while the deadlock continued. Meanwhile M. Tardieu does not go so far as to announce any intention ot returning. , , , , French newspapers strongly protest against what thev call an organised campaign of London newspapers blamine France for the deadlock. They also suggest that the British Government instigated the campaign. "Le Temps" remarks: "Such oblique manoeuvres are especially disconcerting when undertaken by a people who are normally attached to truth. In dealing with the international conference it is France alone who has made useful suggestions toward agreement. It is Italv who has caused the deadlock."—"Times." ———— —— 0 CONFERENCE CONTINUING. HOPE OF RETURN OF FRENCH. (Received This Dav, 2 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. The official spokesman stated that the Naval Conference was continuing in full confidence of the return ot the French delegation very soon. The British and United States delegates will hold a meeting to-morrow.