ITALY'S REPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 9

ITALY'S REPLY.

ARMS PLAN REJECTED. Limitation Must be Applied Universally. NAVY BELOW STRENGTH. (By CaMe —rrcss Asßoclatioa —Cor.-rriplitJ WASHINGTON. February 22, A Note has been received from the Italian rejecting ih# American proposal for a r.a-.al <ksarmament conference. The Note says the Italian (,ov< i nment fully appreciates the high spirit which actuated the President. Mr. ( alv ia Coolidge. but insi-1-. upon the undeniable interdependence of eveiy kind of armament by every single ]"ow ei. It is not possible, therefore, to adopt partial measures limited to the Ins great naval Powers. A limitation of armaments, in order 1o be efficacious, must l»e universal. The reply also points out that the minor naval Powers have not followed the example of Washington: al-o that 'the conference in Rome in 1H24. held with the object of extetidinrr the Wa«-h- ---, ington principles to the non-signstoi r Powers, had proved unsuccessful. It draws attention to Italy's unfavorable peographical. situatktr.. especially , in the Mediterranean, with her lines of communication and iour im]*>nant colonic- to pioU-ct. , Otbei nations, it sa\-. have wore weighty positions there, and it cnipha- ' sises that Italy could not expose herself without i'rave risks to a limitation of her naval armaments, which are already jnsufhek nt for her defensive need-. Italv'- n.ilitarv budget. and above all her naval budget, for which £12.00lU»(»u a venr is appropriated. demonstrate clearly th::t the far-reaching building programme allc-gi-d in the message from America cannot refer to Italy. Finally the Note expresses regret that Italy cannot accept the proposal. AMAZING FIGURES. BRITONS WAR PLANES. tUeceired 11 am • LONDON. February 22. Amazing rigim— oi Britain's intensive . acial preparations in the last yea* of 1 the war were g'vcti by Sir Samuel : Hoare. in a written reply to a question in the House of Commons, i This disclosed that from November, PIT. to November. 191*. contracts wcte 1 ;.laced in Britain for the construct ion i of 32.4."»0 aeroplane* and l<i97 seaplane-, ! a: a total cost of iir.O.HOO.ooo. CONSULTING DOMINIONS. BRITAIN MARKING TIME. (Received 3 0 '.',(> ami LONDON", Februavj 22. In "he House of Commons. Mr. Manh-y Baldwin, m answer to a question, said the Government wns consulting the Dominions with reference to the Amen- | can disarmament proposals. A c soon as their opinion was received, a reply would be Kent to America and a sialemcnt would then It made in I'm liament. LATEST SUBMARINE. POWERFUL CRAFT LAUNCHED ( Rf-ct-iVeO 31 ;. v. < BOMK. Fcbruaiv 22. Italv's latest 110(1 ton sulrniaiilie, I'.aiilhi. wa» launched ;.t Spr/ia. ll .- the lirst m the world capal>le of mi I '- iucr;inj: to Mitoft. ltav>-11mg nitii-U-en knoi«- <.n the •■i l rfac<' i-.iid t<-»i uTio"-. --wt.-IIKTu-ed It h.ns six toipodo u;lm-« and engme« of 44'»fi-h<H-.( powel ASQUITirS PROPOSAL. ROUGH. PRACTICAL SOLUTION. (Heet-ived 11 a IB I LONDON. Fehrua-y 22 !.■:■! i>\f.>r.l and Asquith •]:*: :'.',■-' ra-ic-t method of hnding a • iim. pra' - iral solution of the limit ■- ;.>i4 ••:' arman.er.t-. would '•■•■ '■> tix a }•' rr-en ta r • ■'. na'.onwl :, w --J* whnii could l'g,: i :i.a ■ rly l.« • »;.prort a'ed for anv for:i.» ot wa ■ - '. k< efj-.iipii.cj.:.— .'>v dncv •'--.ir