STEADY PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 283, 28 November 1921, Page 5

STEADY PROGRESS.

AT ARMAMENTS CONGRESS. SETTLING MATTERS OF DETAIL ASSOCIATION OF NATIOJSS. HARDINCS NEW SCHEME. (By Cable.—Press Aesociatiou. — Copyright.) (Received n.::o a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 27. The special representative of the United Service at the 'Washington Conference fays that hard work and committee activities are replacing the more spectacular demonstrations of the Conference. Steady achievement is maintained, irrespective of the sporadic efforts ■of mischief-makers to disseminate propaganda. The tone of the principal papers is philosophical acceptation of reaction after enthusiasm, urging adherence to fundamentals and the adjustment of minor details. The New York "World" alone lays emphasis on the United States isolation, repeating the old slogan, "We have nothing to do with Europe." The representative adds: "I have learned on high authority that President flarding's association of nations scheme, with periodic conferences, is regarded in Brit-tin as more or le3s an American domestic question, pending a definite scheme, though Britain is anxious to participate in auy movement tending .to forward the world's peace." — United Service.)

BMICGIIfCr IN GERMANY, IN LATER CONFERENCES. ANNUAL MEETINGS UKEI.V. WASHINGTON. November 27. Two important statements were made by the President, Mr. \V. G. Harding, to pressmen :«t liis woekly interview yesterday. Mr. Harding declared cmphatieally that he hoped that if the preient conference was a success, us he was sure it would be, it would oe followed by yearly conferences of a like nature to discuss the affairs of the nations of the world, so as to reduce the chances of war. Mr. Harding also made known his expectation that other nations might be invited to attend the present conference before its close. Asked pointedly whether that included Germany, the President said, "Yes." It was hig fervent hope that out of the conference would arise some form of aieociation of nations.

The President's suggestion for enlarging the present conference by taking in Germany and other Powers, and for an association of nations, is the subject of much eoriimeTit to-day. The British delegates let it be known, through their official'spokesman, that they would welcome any action tending toward th<? peace of the world, but they considered that this was a domestic matter, and they awaited an expression of the opinion of the Congress. Britain would be found willing to fall in with any views in the direction of furthering the comity of nations.

France is expected to oppose the proposal on the grounds that Germany can only be kept in order by the presence of a large French army. No official statement can be secured as M. Briand is on the ocean, and no member of the French delegation will commit himself. Some of the French advisers say that aormany would immediately try to wrigglle out of her obligations under the Versailles Treaty, and thereafter there would be no limit to troublesome Continental questions arising.

Italy is expected to be sympathetic to Mr. Harding's suggestion. Germany is known to be ready to send a small stiff as soon as she is asked, but she might want to raise the question of reparation, which is considered to be beyond the scone of the present conference.

Regarding the President's suggestion of enlarging the scope of the conference by making it an annual institution, irreeoncilables in the Senate declared totlaythat they would oppose any association of nations that might involve American troons fighting- someone olse's battles.

Mr. Balfour, it is reported, was disinclined to discuss the proposition when »c hetrd that it did not "relate to the League of Nations. The Japanese, Belgian, and other delegations support the plan in principle. It is understood in official i|iiarters tliat the question of land disarmament '3 not definitely shelved, and may be referred again to the committee on arm«nents. This squares with the l'resideht's announcement that other nations may possibly be invited to the conference, and foreshadows an effort to cover ji's French attitude against reduction of land forces. One of M. Briand's chief objections to agreeing to limitation of '""I armaments was that other European nations with large existing or potential armies were not reducing their armaments.— (A. and X.Z. Special.)

ntANCE READY TO DISARM. WHEN SAFETY ASSURED. ißeceived 0,30 a.in.i NEW YORK, November 27. •Marshal Foch, speaking nt St. Paul, -Minnesota, declared that France was re »dy to disarm on land and s»a when "«" national .safety was adequately Pwranteed.— (Renter.)

France not imperialistic. success of conference. WASHINGTON, November 27. M. Briaud, Prime Minister of France, pdrtssed a party of newspaper men ""ore sailing. He said: "I am going '"light to Paris. I do not intend to °1> in London to confer witli anyone. . c conference has been a great success r .°ffl tho French standpoint. The states knows that France is not *pf.rialistu\ 1 am sure we are entirely In sympathy." y . Briand said that lie felt that his P«* in Washington had been niis"Krpreterl in Europe, where some had *«n the view that it disclosed Franco Woe militaristic- (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

NAVY WEEK

EXAMINING THE (FIGURES. RATIO OF TONNAGE. WASHINGTON, November 27. The next week of the Washington Conference ie expected to be "Xevy Week," states the special representative of the Australian and the New Zealand Press Association. British and American naval advisers have practically completed their investigation. The Japanese arc still examining figures. Most satisfactory progress has been made toward reaching conclusions. It i> seiui-officially hinted that the submarine question still plays a large part in t!ie discussions. Opinion is gaining ground in British quarters, and is shared to some extent by Americans, that it would be useless to restrict capital 6hips. and at the same time sanction the creation of an undcrseas navy with almost as much potentiality for harm.

The week-end hns brought forth v crop of contradictions, various delegation? denying rumours of friction between any of them. This afternoon it was suggested that there were signs of * deadlock between the United States and .lapaii on the subject of the tonnage and ratio of capital ships. It was authoritatively stated that the United States can gee no reason to depart from her original propoeition. It is known that Japan is straining every nerve to keep the Mutsu from being scrapped.

It was noticeable that to-day's Administration conference with newspaper men was the first occasion when optimism as to speedy success was not expressed. It must not be taken that the position is in any degree strained. It has been indicated that such difficulties as exist have not passed out of the hands of technical experts, who are still engaged in an endeavour to reconcile a mass of detail with the formula submitted for examination by Japan chiefly, Britain having already practically accepted the ratio.

It is understood that Italy is taking a stiff attitude toward the French claim for a large navy. Italian delegates declare that they will insist on having a navy as strong as France. They intimate that they will sign no agreement wherein ■that stipulation does not exist. They have already pointed out to the conference that Britain hae far more to defend than France, and therefore they realise that she should have a preponderating submarine tonnage.—(A. and N.Z.)

LLOYD GEORGE MAY ATTEND. LONDON, November 27. The ''Sunday Times" states that Mr. Lloyd George hopes to sail for the United States in the middle of December at the latest, and earlier if possible. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at Tunbridge Wells, said that there was still a. great hope of Mr. Lloyd George going to Washington.— (A. and NX Cable.)