ITALIAN PROPOSAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 140, 26 March 1930, Page 5

ITALIAN PROPOSAL

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE. ADJOURNMENT FOR SIX MONTHS FRANCE AND ITALY TO CONFER. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This D'ay, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, March 25. Signor Grandl, during a meeting with J. Ramsay MacDonald, suggested that the Naval Conference should adjourn for six months. In the meantime Italy would try to reach an amicable agreement, ' and each Power would undertake for the time being not to start building any shins. The "Daily Herald" says that Mr MacDonald is considering the proposal. SUGGESTION NOT CONSIDERED. STILL SEEKING A SOLUTION. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 20. The British spokesman confirmed the report that the Italians advanced a proposal to adjourn the Conference for six months to enable the French and Italians to attempt to compose their difficulties and that meanwhile a ThreePower Pact should be considered. The spokesman gave an assurance that the proposal was momentarily put aside because the experts were continuing to endeavour to find a solution on a five-Power basis. He admitted that the Italian suggestion was worth while in certain circumstances. Mr H. L. Stimson (United States.) conferred with Mr MacDonald this morning. The heads of delegations will meet this afternoon to examine the general situation in the light of the experts' discussions. It is assured that M. Dumesnil will represent France. AMERICAN POLITICIAN'S VIEW. ADVOCACY OF WITHDRAWAL. (Received This Day 11.15 a.m.) VANCOUVER, March 25. An offiical Government statement in the United States expressing optimism concerning the outcome of the Navai Conference was followed to-day by a statement from the Chairman of tlie House of. Representatives Naval Committee (Mr Fred Britten) advocating withdrawing of the United States delegation and blaming the British Admiralty for what he called the failure of the Conference.

THE FRENCH VIEWPOINT. NECESSITY FOR SECURITY. (Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) PARIS, March 25. In the course of a speech dealing with the Naval Conference. M. Briand said that France must not allow criticism representing her a« an obstacle to agreement to turn her aside from her national preoccupations about security, but the London negotiations had in nowise ended, and he did not despair of an> ultimate solution, though he had hitherto been unable to obtain what France wanted. As long as all nations were not .prepared to accept a legal solution of "quarrels, mutual organisation of security was necessary. France was not asking for security in her own interests, but a mutual general organisation useful to everyone. The policy was nowise based on old-fashioned alliances but mutual guarantees against a common danger. i

FRANCE AND POSTPONEMENT. NO LIKELIHOOD OF AGREEMENT. (Received Tbjs Dav, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 25. Though theiproposal for the adjournment of the Naval Conference is condemned completely, both in: the Quai d' Orsay ("the French Foreign Office) and in the Paris Press, the view being that a Franco-Italian agreement is as unlikely six months hence as now. The American delegation 4to-night insisted that more progress was being made in the direction of a Five-Power Agreement than yet appeared outwardly. M. Briand has definitely decided to return to London to-morrow, and this is construed as an olive branch toward Britain. FRENCH DELEGATES RETURN. NO CHANGE IN SITUATION. LONDON, March 24. The newspapers state that the delegations may soon have to decide whether the time has not come to summon a plenary session to review the whole position. Such a meeting would enable Great Britain, as the inviting Power, tc move its proposals for disarmament, for it is felt that the objects of the Conference have been allowed to drift into the background. "The Times" says: "If the proposals forwarded to Japan and America, are acceptable a way would be open to the clrawing up of a complete pact, and even at the present stage it is felt that it would be possible to prepare a pact between America and Japan and Great Britain, which would accelerate the scrapping of battleships during the next five years, and thus prolong the life of existing ships; to define the number of cruisers carrying eight-inch guns, and cruisers/ carrying guns of smaller calibre; to limit the tonnage of destroyers; to limit the size of submarines to 2000 tons ; and to regulate the use of the submarine in wartime." "By this means," "The Times" adds "a great deal of good could come from the London Conference, even if a fivePower treaty is not found practicable."

A meeting of the British and United States delegations was held this morning, when the. difficulties confrontine the Conference were further examined, and this evening the Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MncDonald) had a long conversation with the chief Italian delegate Signer Grandi, at the House of Commons. '

The general situation has _ undergone an appreciable change in the

rourse of the dav. The French Minister of Marine (M. Dumesnil), has returned to London, and the Colonial Minister (M. Pietri). is due to-mor-row. The date of the return of M. Briand is not yet announced, but he is expected when his Parliamentary duties permit. The King has presented the members of all the delegations to the Conference with an autographed' gramoohbne record of his speech at the opening of the Conference on Januarv 21. Each record is contained in a Royal blue leather case hearing the Royal "oat-of-arms. British 'Official Wireless.