NAVAL PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 7

NAVAL PACT.

RUSH TO PARIS.

Agreement on Limitation Basis

Believed Near.

BRITISH DELEGATION SENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 23. The announcement was ini.de in the House of Commons this evening that the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, left London for Paris to-day to continue discussions with the French Government on the naval question. It wae added that the other Powers ■Signatory to the London Naval Treaty had been kept informed of these developments. Tlio Ministers were accompanied by Mr. R. L. Cfaigie, of the Foreign Office, who on various occasions since the London Naval Conference lias visited Paris and Rome to discuse naval building programmes with French, and Italian experts, and who a few days ago roturned from Paris, where lie had discussions with Signor Massigli. Mr. Walford Selby, of the Foreign Office, and Commander Bittleston, of the Admiralty, are also of the party.

Mr. Craigie was Mr. Ramsay MacDonald's right-hand man at the London Naval Conference, since when negotiations have been continuous. The real climax came when Mr. Henderson and M. Briand, French Foreign Secretary, recently went to Geneva to the meeting of the League Council an the same compartment. There Mr. Henderson apparently secured certain concessions from M. Briand, which had hitherto been feared unachievable, culminating in to-day's hurried trip. It is suggested in official circles that two members of the Cabinet would not make such a journey unless an agreement was near. It is believed that an agreement would not include the full concession that Britain desired, but would be considered sufficient to ensure Britain's undertaking no new buildings beyond what the London agreement provides, though the existing tonnage will not be reduced. This is embodied in Article 21 of the recent treaty, known as the "Escalator" clause, involving the transference of tonnage. All Britain's recent efforts have sought

All Britain's recent efforts have sought to prevent this from being invoked and to persuade the French. Government to accept certain reductions in its London programme. This building entailed Britain's following suit, at enormous expenditure, added to a huge Budget deficit. A few points remain to be settled in connection With the proposed agreement which is tripartite, Italy having also to bo further consulted. ■ . . «- The French in Londdm a margin of superiority for the French Navy over the Italian, of 244,000 tons, useable outside the Mediterranean, leaving 144,000 tons in Hand t6 counterbalance the German Navy and 100,000 tons for colonial defence. It is understood that Mr. Craigie aimed at a margin of 150,000 tons of new vessels, plus older units of the French Navy. The question of the French submarine tonnage has chiefly delayed, a Franco-British agreement. FRENCH ARMY. Ten Per Cent Decrease in Cost Claimed. ENVISAGING- DISARMAMENT. ("Times" Cables.) (deceived 10 a.m.) LONDON, February 23.

The Paris correspondent of the "Times" says the report on the military estimates submitted to the Deputies envisages the Disarmament Commission's discussions and presents the French cause in a most favourable light. The home army vote is shown at £38,000,000 and the oversea army vote at £13,000,000, aggregating £600,000 more than last year. The expenditure, it is alleged, has decreased 10 per cent since 1914, the United States has increased 86 per cent, Japan 48 p6r cent, while Britain has decreased 1 per cent, and Italy 14. France compares her 552,000 men in the home and oversea forces with Britain's 510,000 regulars, 277,000 militia and 43,000 oversea formations. Italy has 303,000 regulars and 110,000 police and militia, and Germany 100,000 regulars and 150,000 security police.