EMPIRE UNITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1930, Page 9

EMPIRE UNITY.

NAVAL REQUIREMENTS 7 Emphasis of Dominion Speakers -Featured. "DAILY TELEGRAPH'S" yiEWS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) . ' ] , LONDON, January 24. L* The naval correspondent of the ; "Daily Telegraph" says the emphasis j laid by the Dominion spokesmen on j the political and strategic unity.of the Empire "was the most arresting > feature of the speeches at the Naval I Conference. ■ The Prime Minister, Mr.' Mac Donald, - admitted, or at least he implied, that ' his preliminary survey was confined to ! the British Isles, and took ho cognisance ; of Dominion requirements". It cannot be • over-emphasised, says the correspondent, that at the present conference, as at Washington, the term "British Navy" ; embraces the entire naval forces of the i Empire. Thus when ,Mri Mac Donald says i "Britain is satisfied with 50 cruisers;" 1 he is really hypothecating the future strength of the whole Empire. It is no secret that Australia, New' Zealand, Canada, and South Africa envisage plans of naval : development, which, however, will be equally subject to restriction in the event of an agreement being reached. ■ The correspondent adds that he finds a feeling almost of apprehension, in Dominion circles, lest the oneness and individuality of the Empire's forces should be overlooked. Incidentally he notes that they have a broader grasp of; Imperial requirements than is revealed among the majority of home politicians. ";. Categoric or Global Tonnage? An experts' report, to which reference was made in yesterday's communique, on two theses, has been advanced by Britain ' and France, the former favouring cate- I goric, and the latter global tonnage, the ■ British scheme being®applicable to all ' types of vessel, and the French leaving • each nation the use of global tonnage • according, to its requirements. These programmes will be tbe first discussed 1 as they stand, in order to ascertain how I far the French communique is reconcil- ( able. The French and British delegates'met this morning to consider the report of ] the committee of experts. This shows ] encouraging results in certain points. It was decided to invite' the.experts to "• continue their conversations. ; -The heads of the French and British delegations met at .Downing Street, after which the .Italian delegation began con- ] versations with the British regarding the" general agenda. There was no approach to decisions. Mere matters of organisation were'discussed. Mr. Mac Donald entertains the Dominions' delegates on Sunday afternoon, although no parleys have been arranged for the week-end. .'Mr, H. L. Stimsdn, United States Secretary of State, in a statement to the Press, said that the; progress was most f satisfactory and encouraging, and seemed r to meet unanimous approval. Mr. Stim- a son, after occupying the morning con- f ferring with the American delegation, s confers with Signor Grandi, chief Italian delegate, in the afternoon., ' d