WAR UNTHINKABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 7

WAR UNTHINKABLE

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Distrust And Suspicion Must

Now Cease.

HOOVER-MacDONALD AGREE

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service.)

WASHINGTON, October 10,

A joint statement was issued last evening by the President of the United States, Mr. Hoover, and the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. MacDonald, concerning their recent conversations.

These, it said, had been based on the assumption that war between the two countries had been banished, and that consequently a satisfactory solution of the old, historical problems between them had become possible.

These problems wore not specified in the statement, but there is little doubt that the principal one was the freedom of the seas, which has been the cause of manv controversies in the past.

A brief explanatory introduction to tho statement said that Messrs. Hoover and Mac Donald were highly gratified by the keen interest taken by the peoples of the two countries in their meeting. They rgarded it as proof of the desire of each nation for a closer understanding between Britain and America.

The statement proceeded: "Our conversations have been largely confined to the mutual relations between our two countries in the light of the situation created by the signing of the Kellogg Pact. Therefore, in a new and reinforced sense, our two Governments not only declare that war between them Ik unthinkable, but that the distrust ami suspicion which arose from the doubts and fears which may have been justified before the Kellogg Pact must now cease to influence our national policy.

"Active consideration by our two countries of the problems is now to be taken up in a manner similar to that followed during the naval negotiations in London between Mr. Mac Donald and Sir. C. G. Dawes, United States Ambassador to Britain. * "Through the continuation of our candid conversations on the naval problem we predict that mutual understandings will be reached which will make possible an agreement at the five-Powers naval conference in January. We hope the steps we have taken to seure peace will be welcomed by the peoples whom we represent." More Than Hoped For. In the course of an Interview Mr. Mac Donald eaid he had achieved more than he had hoped to do in his talks with Mr. Hoover. They had agreed to keep the Kellogg Pact in front of them to use for the purpose of coming to an agreement on subjects which had defied agreement up to now. In consequence, Mr. Mac Donald said, he would' take back to London a series of questions, all of. which now would be the subject of study by the various Departments concerned, and of consideration between the Dominions and the British Government, with the object of coming to an agreement upon them. Mr. W. E. Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, who is a vigorous advocate of the freedom of the seae, said he had enjoyed a very satisfactory talk with Mr. Mac Donald at the British Embassy. However, he refused to discuss the meeting in detail. There is no escaping the: feeling that the statement issued by Messrs. MacDonald and Hoover is disappointing to those who had reason to expect that it would give in fairly definite terms, the topics discussed. It is known that originally the statement was much longer but was cut down after consultation, specific information being deleted. This was done for obvious political reasons. While Mr. Mac Donald was here he was in daily telephonic communication with Downing Street. Of course it is known that fuller consultation with his Cabinet will be necessary before it can be disclosed to the public what he and the President discussed. It is understood that Messrs. MaeDonald and Hoover also considered the question of Allied debts, but ifc is believed that it was more : n the nature of an academic consideration. It is also believed the two leaders concluded that the question of the freedom of the seas would find its solution in the Kellogg Pact. The world may expect the enunciation of a new doctrine concerning the rights of neutral shipping in time of war which will take account of the sensibilities of both nations with respect to their traditional policies. The feeling is that the conversations constituted a remarkable beginning to further diplomatic discussions which will have extremely important results.

U.S. ACCEPTS INVITATION. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, October 10. Coinciding with the departure of Mr. Mac Donald for Philadelphia on Thursday morning the United States Government formally accepted Britain's invitation to participate in the five-Power naval - conference.

GERMAN ATTENTION.

LAND FORCE QUESTION. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 12 noon.) BERLIN, October 10. The Berlin Press is paying close attention to the MacDonald-Hoover conversations, which they think have reached most valuable results. Political circles are most anxioxis for the success of the rive-Power naval conference as a prelude to land disarmament, failing which there will be sure to be a demand for permission to increase the German Army.