TIME IS RIPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 7

TIME IS RIPE.

CONFERENCE NEEDED.

Anglo-American Agreement Only A Preliminary.

OBSTACLES VANISH,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12 noon.)

RUGBY, September 17

The naval disarmament proposals are discussed in all the newspapers to-day in the light of the progress made in the conversations. The difference of opinion.between Britain and the United States has now been narrowed down to such a small compass that it is thought by both Governments that the time is ripe for the calling of a general conference of the five principal naval Powers to continue the work of limitation and reduction which was begun so successfully at Washington in 1922.

The danger of ultimate disagreement between the two countries has been all but eliminated. Difficulties which may arise may yet prove complicated, but the foundations have now been well laid.

There is a very fair prospect of general limitation of navies which will also, it is to be hoped, lead eventually to the desirable goal of real and substantial reduction in naval armaments.

The "Daily Telegraph" after congratulating Mr. Mac Donald and President Hoover on their courageous efforts, emphasises that Anglo-American agreement is strictly a preliminary to the five-Power conference, and whether it becomes operative or not'depends on the degree to which other Powers at the conference agree to fix their standards in respect to each other, and to Britain and America.

The "Daily Herald" points out that hitherto the greatest obstacle has been Anglo-American failure to agreo on any schedule which could be defended as establishing-... parity between the different requirements of the two countries. That obstacle has now almost vanished. There is not yet final agreement' but agreement is very near. The "Manchester Guardian" recalls that trivial differences were permitted to wreck the three-Power naval disarmament conference, but says it is inconceivable that the present Anglo-American differences should not prove easy to solve. . There has been a vital change in the conditions since 1927 owing to the Kellogg Tact, and the change of Governments in both countries.

The "Daily Mail" regards the outcome as most promising and says Mr. MacDonald's visit to the United States may open a new chapter in world history if all the expectations based on it are fulfilled. Meanwhile Mr. Mac Donald must be congratulated on the. progress already made.

The "Morning Post" regards the preliminary agreement with America as more than probable, especially as President Hoover and Mr. Mac Donald are both set on finishing it.