FULL OF HOPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 9

FULL OF HOPE.

AMERICAN DELEGATES

Welcomed To England For Naval Powers' Conference. ITALIANS GREETED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12 noon.) RUGBY, January 17. Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary of State, Mr. Adams, Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Dwight Morrow, United States Ambassador in Mexico, and Senators Robinson and Reed, the United States delegates to the Naval Conference, . reached Plymouth this morning. They were welcomed at the quayside by General Dawes, American Ambassador, who is himself one of the delegates, the Mayor and other civic dignatories of Plymouth, and Admiral Sir Hubert Brand. All the delegates expressed keen satisfaction that the King was now sufficiently well to honour the delegations by addressing them at Tuesday's opening, meeting. "Thanks for welcoming a Pilgrim back to Plymouth. We come full of high hopes and earnest endeavour to make tho conference a success," was all that Mr. Stihieon had to say on his arrival at dawn from America. Mr. H. L. Stimson and other members of the American delegation to the Naval Conference were received on their arrival at Paddington station, London, this afternoon by Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, Sir. H. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Robert Vansittart, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Craigie, head of the American Department of the Foreign Office and Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, son of the Prime Minister, who represented his father. There was a large crowd of the general public on the platform. Within about an hour Mr. Stimson was received by the Prime Minister at Downing Street. Their conversation lasted just over three hours. The Italian delegation, headed by Sig-. nor Grandi, arrived at Victoria station, London, later in the day. They were received by Mr. Henderson, Sir R. Vansittart, Mr. Craigie and Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald. In relation to the British programme for the Naval Conference, it is pointed out that a proposal much to the same effect was made by the late Conservative Government at the Geneva Conference and met with a hopeful reception. Lord Bridgeman, formerly First Lord of the Admiralty, estimated that if it had been adopted it would have meant the saving of about £50,000,000 in the period of replacement. The "Times" says: "No doubt the reductions advocated can hardly be as sweeping as both economists and an important section of naval opinion would hope to see them. The British Government is rightly sensitive to the danger of bringing forward too drastic proposals which might wreck, all chance of agreement. After long years, however, during which, through unrestricted competition, the size and cost of every class of ship have soared continuously an agreement to reverse the process at all would be a very welcome achievement." There' will be no ceremonial at the opening of the Naval Conference on •Tuesday. His Majesty enters at eleven o'clock in the forenoon and immediately delivers the opening speech. Then there will be speeches by Mr. MacDonaJd and the other leaders. The session expected to end at one o'clock. An idea of the organisation required to bring about international conferences can be gained from the fact that about 1000 people are coming to Londbn in connection with the Five Powers Naval Conference. Thirty delegates will .meet in the conj ference chamber. Behind- each will be naval experts, official advisers, political, private and departmental secretaries, | and typists. | Twenty-two admirals will be in attendance. The seven United States delegates will be accompanied by 100 experts and secretaries, 20 women typists and 40 journalists. Many of the delegates are bringing their wives, who 110 doubt will enjoy a period of shopping and sight seeing. The Americans have taken the two top floors at the Ritz Hotel. The Japanese delegates are staying at . Grosvenor House and also have taken a house round the corner for their organisation. It will be a change for those who attend the conference to have English as the official language. It is expected that the proceedings will be translated. IN HARMONY. EMPIRE AND NAVAL POLICY. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. Mr. J. E. Fenton, Australian Minister of Customs, and delegate to the Naval Conference, lengthily conferred with Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. Fenton did not make any comment except that he was sure the Empire was harmonious on the main points, which showed an important advance in the new peace ideals. BROADCAST FROM LONDON. RELAY. IN NEW ZEALAND. (J>y Telegraph.—Own" Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Wellington broadcasting station 2YA and the YA stations in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin will, if atmospheric conditions are favourable, on Tueedav night, rebroadcast the speeches to be delivered in London on the occasion of the opening of the Five Powers Naval Conference. The original broadcast will, be effected by the .British short-wave station SSW* The speeches will, according to New Zealand time, begin at 11 p.m.'on Tuesday, and. end at 1 a.m. on Wednesday. " - - The opening speech will "be made by the King, and if the relay proves a success it will be the first occasion 011 which the King's voice has been heard over the air front London through the New Zealand stations. This will be the first public speech by His Majesty since his rppoverv from his recent severe illness. The Svdney station 2FO will also attempt the rebroadcast.