FRENCH VIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 303, 23 December 1929, Page 7

FRENCH VIEW.

NAVAL DISARMAMENT

Memorandum Forwarded To

Britain.

U.S.A. AND BATTLESHIPS

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

PARIS, December 22.

The French Government has forwarded to Britain a memorandum setting forth the general French view regarding naval disarmament in connection with the forthcoming Five Powers Naval Conference. Its points, summarised, are:— (1) Naval disarmament is only part of a general limitation of armaments which the League of Nations must settle. (2) Land, sea and air armaments must bo considered as interdependent. (3) The demands of France in tonnage will he based on her needs. (4) The naval problem must be considered in relation to the guarantees of security necessary to each country concerned. The memorandum has ah) been communicated to the United £ ates, Japan and Italy. The text will be published shortly. " The "Xew York Herald Tribune's" Washington correspondent says it is authoritatively indicated that at the Five Powers Naval Conference the United States may propose that capital ship replacements be postponed until 1930.

The theory is that six years hence the time may be ripe to do away with such battleships altogether and that the prospect may now be sufficiently good to save the Powers much by delaying the renlacements.

The Canadian Minister of Defence, Mr. J. S. Ralston, is to be Canada's representative at the Five Powers Naval Conference in London. Ho will be accompanied by Commander Hose, chief of the Naval Staff of the Defence Department.

The Japanese authorities are pleased with the reception accorded to their naval delegates at Washington. The latter are proceeding to London. They are satisfied that good results will accrue from the conversations held, which they think presage the success of the conference.