THREE-POWER PACT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 5

THREE-POWER PACT

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE. i PROBABLE OUTCOME OF MEETING REDUCTION IN BATTLESHIPS. BASIS FOR WIDER AGREEMENT. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON; April 6. As was anticipated, the position regarding the Naval Conference has undergone no change during the weekend. Many of the delegates attended the football match, England v. Scotland, yesterday afternoon, and at its conclusion the Prime Minister motored to Chequers, where he spent a quiet day to-day, no important interviews having been arranged. Most of the other delegates spent the day out of London.

M. Briand, as already stated, left yesterday afternoon for Paris to consult his Government, and he is not expected to return until Tuesday. Pending his return, it is unlikely that any important change in the situation will take place, as the political questions which have been the subject of conversations between France and Britain form the chief obstacles to further advance.

No fewer than nine questions bearng on the political aspect of the Conference and the interpretation of Article 16 of the League of Nations Covenant are down for answer in the House of Commons to-morrow. They display fear that the formula interpreting Britain’s obligations under existing pacts and covenants might imply a new guarantee to France. It has, however, been repeatedly stated by the Prime Minister that the Government, while willing to define and explain the extent of Britain’s undertakings, is not prepared to increase her commitments.

The “Observer,” which emphasises that if any practical or far-reaching agreement on naval reduction is to be achieved, France must be a party to it, says: “If it be found possible to gratify France by a re-statement of existing obligations, whether embodied in the Covenant or in the Locarno letter to Germany, and thereby, after all, to induce France to agree to the serious business of naval disarmament, it is clearly the duty of British diplomacy to explore such avenue.

That is the deliberate view of the British delegation. Mr Hugh Gibson (American Ambassador to Belgium, and one of the American delegates to the Naval Conference) delivered a radio address to the United States this afternoon. He said that during the last week a definite agreement had been reached zetween the United States, Great Britain and Japan. It meant .that from the fleets of the three Powers nine battleships were to be scrapped without replaceament. Under the terms of this arrangement the Japanese battleship fleet would consist of nine battleships. Reduction of the combined battleship fleets of the three countries would therefore equal in -numbers the third largest battleship fleet in the world. Under the terms of the Washington Treaty; the United States, Great Britain, and Japan'were committed to the laying down of 26 battleships between now and 1936. Under the arrangements of last week not one battleship would be laid down during the next six years. The great achievement of tihs Conference was that it had arrived at a basis for limiting all kinds of vessels in the three largest fleets. Cruiser, destroyer, and submarine tonnage under this limitation would be far below the lowest limit which was discussed-, at Geneva in 1927. The results attained so far were beyond reasonable expectations. There was good reason to hope' that a five - Power agreement might be signed before the Conference concluded. If the full measure of that agreement, could not lie gained at this session a three-Power agreement could be made on a basis that would welcome as parties to it the other two Powers when their difficulties had been solved.—British Official Wireless.

ANGLO-FRENCH NEGOTIATIONS. FAILURE REPORTED IN LONDON. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, April 5. A diplomatic correspondent says that the Naval Conference is drawing to an end. The Anglo-French negotiations have come to no conclusion and the prospect- of success is minute. The Italians are pressing for a final plenary session next week. M. Briand, after lunching with Mr Ramav MacDonald, discussed the situation by telephone with M. Tardieu, in Paris, and informed him that they had come to the conclusion that the position was hopeless. The latest British suggestions were not acceptable and the search for a formula must be abandoned.

The Americans feel that Britain and France have been trying to do a job too big for the time and place. The correspondent forecasts, that the Anglo-French negotiations will be aba'ndoned during the week-end, and that the plenary session will Ire about Wednesday. The technical work of drafting a three-Power pact has been begun, and it should he ready for signing before Easter, '-enabling Mr H. L. Stimson (U.S.A.) to join the liner Leviathan on Easter Tuesday morning. The “Post’s” special correspondent understands that serous differences have arisen in the Cabinet on tl;p subject of the French demands, and states that some of the Ministers are opposed to anv formula, however mild, committine: Britain any further. Signor Graiidi proposes to depart ,on April 15, because he has urgent engagements in Rome. COST OF ACCOMMODATION. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, April 6. The Anglo-Rrench discussion was continued to-day. Mr MacDonald, Mr A. Henderson and Sir Robert \ ansittart were again engaged with M. Briand in a renewed attempt to find a formula to satisfy the French craving for judicial instruments, without involving Great Britain in further military commitment. M. Briand afterwards went to Paris, and will return on Tuesdav. Before his departure he said that the British and French viewpoints were closer, and that progress had been made. It has been estimated that the visiting delegations to the Naval Conference have spent more than £200,000

on accommodation and entertaining. The American delegation has been living at the rate of £6OO per day. The United States Government originally provided a fund of £40,000, and this has been augmented by £30,000. FRENCH NEED OF A NAVY. OVERSEAS TRADE PROTECTION. (United Press Association—Copyright.) PARIS, A mil 6. At St. Nazaire, the President (M. Roumergue), in a speech before the Chamber of Commerce, stressed the necessity for France to become a great naval-constructing nation in order to assure the security and development of her colonial trade and the protection of her overseas commerce.