The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1929. THE DISARMAMENT PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1929. THE DISARMAMENT PROBLEM.

For the cause that lacka assistance, For the torong that needs resiatano*, For the future in the distance, Ami the good that toe can do.

According to a semi-official statement which is regarded as authoritative, the margin of difference between Britain and the United States in respect to naval requirements is now extremely narrow. Apparently some surprise has been created in expert circles by a sudden rise in American claims as regards the number of cruisers and total tonnage during the past week. But it is now believed that the only obstacle to a final settlement is that the Americans want three more 10,000-ton cruisers than Britain thinks they require, and that Britain considers that the American aggregate is too great by 15,000 tons. If these are the only serious discrepancies between the two programmes Mr. Mac Donald may well feel optimistic about the probable outcome of his visit to Washington. It must bo understood, however, that any agreement on these points could only be regarded as a preliminary step toward an international understanding on the question of naval disarmament on a more comprehensive scale. Accordingly, the Governments of Britain and the United States have issued invitations to France, Italy and Japan to take part in a Five-Powers Naval Conference to be held in London in January next. The agreement between Britain and the United States will, of course, be submitted to the Conference, but naturally it is to be accepted only as provisional, and subject to modification in accordance with the claims put forward by other Powers.

In England this close approximation of the British and American viewpoints in regard to naval disarmament has been heartily welcomed. But wo must not rashly assume that the coming Five-Power Conference will necessarily accept the Anglo-American solution of this complicated problem. Different States look at the question from different angles, and France in particular is extremely dubious about the Conference and tho developments that it may involve. In the first place, the French are always suspicious of any proposal that suggests joint action by the Anglo-Saxon peoples; and though Britain and the United States are rivals rather than kinsfolk, this joint programme may serve on tho Continent to resuscitate the ancient bogy of an aggressive Anglo-Saxondom "aiming at world supremacy." Moreover, if Japan, as is probable, backs up Britain and the United States, the other Powers may be constrained to accept the terms that the three allies lay down. France resents the suggestion that her naval requirements are less important than British or American needs; she resents also the Italian claim for parity; and she fears that the delegates of the Powers, when they meet, may not only propose the abolition of submarines, but may raise again the awkward question of military reserves. For all these reasons France at least will approach the Conference "Ivith grave anxiety and many misgivings.