ROCKS AHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 7

ROCKS AHEAD.

Naval Conference May End In Failure. FRENCH ESTIMATES TOR 1930. ("Times" Cables.) ~.- ' LONDON, December 10.

The Paris correspondent of the "Times" says the memorandum accompanying the French naval estimates'for 1930, which total £21,464,000, an increase of £1,584,000 compared with last year, anticipates the failure of the fivePowers Naval Conference if Britain and the United States attempt to impose their own wishes on the other Powers, whose needs must be studied independently of any Anglo-American agreement. Another stumbling block may be Italy's claim to parity with Prance. It is stated that if Italy persists in its claim the success of-the conference will be endangered. France's own requirements, which are unofficially estimated at a figure approaching 800,000 tons, will be distributed as the Government chooses among the various classes of ships. If this tonnage is conceded France may be content to leave the question of parity open, in the belief that Italy Avill not build up to her level. DAWES HOPEFUL. PRELIMINARY PREPARATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12 noon.) - RUGBY, December 10. Speaking at a dinner in London last night the United States Ambassador, General Dawes, said that the coming naval conference would meet in a period of new diplomacy and with a recognition of the value of its methods. The conference would meet after a thorough preliminary consideration of the best methods of approach to its problems.