LIMITATION OF NAVIES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 12 February 1927, Page 15

LIMITATION OF NAVIES.

U.S.A. SUGGESTS CONFERENCE. MEMORANDUM TO FOUR POWERS P' • AB'..r. -TKESS ASSOCIATION -COPrRtCBT.'' .AVSTRAUAS AKD S.". CABLE ASSOCIATION.': WASHINGTON. Februaiv 10. Pie-idciu'Coolidge. in a message to Congress, announced that Notes had been sent in Great Britain. France. Italy and Japan, suggesting they empower the delegates to the Geneva Preparatory L omiiiissioii o.i disarmament, to negotiate- and conclude at an early date an agreement turtlioj- liin.ting naval armaments, covering the classes ol vessels not covered by the treaty cl Washington. 'Hie .Memorandum itseii. v. hick the American Ambassadors handed to tlio I'oweis. goes into much greater detail concerning the armament situation than President Coolidge's message to Congress. It outlines the reasons actuating the American G.>»eminent in making the proposals, but generally covers the same ground. The Memorandum stiesses ih.it 'i won.' be impossible in the near future to expect all the uorld to agree to a comprehensive plan covering all class e.--untl types of armament, but tailurc to arrive at a definite, even if only partial, agreement for limitations, would . .istitutc a set-back to the cause of International peace, and was too great to deserve serious contemplation a* '■' possibility. The Memoiuudum then points out that tlie final Geneva Conference probably will not be able lo meet during f ; present year, and the coming inl'i effect of the agreements reached by it, might he delayed for a considerable period for a multitude ol reasons. The American Government, therefore, believes that those Powers which arc in a nosition to engage in further limitation would not be justilied in postponing their efTorts in that direction. '•[ realise that the problems of armaments of land and air in Europe are beset with difficulties which we must recognise, and although this Government will always be ready to lend assistance in any appropriate way to efforts on the "part of European and other Governments to arrive at regional agreements limiting land and air forces, it would hesitate to make snecific proposals on this subject to European nations. "Tlie problem of the limitations ')f nnv. I armament, while not of a regional character or susceptible »o recri nal treatment, has been successfully treated in part by an agreement among the five leading naval Powers, ami my opinion is it can bo definitely dealt With by further agreements

ong those Powers. It will be n contribution to success of the prework now going on at Geneva, should the great naval Powers there ajyee upon n definite limitation ol naval armament.

"It is my intention that the American representatives at Uenevu should continue to discuss with the representatives of other Powers there a P>o-r-arame for a conference on tho general limitation of armaments. If 6ucl> a conference should be possible in tl«* future, on a basis cenerally acceptable, this Government would of course be highly gratified. Pending the formulaf u of n plan for such a general conference, however, I believe we should make an immediate and sincere effort to 'solve the problm of naval limitation, the solution of which would do much towards more general disarmament successful." Leading Democratic and Republican S.untors heartily approved of President Coolidge's disarmament proposals Senator Borah snid: "I am tho ough\v in sympathy with what the President would achieve." Stnator Curtis said: "We should encourage all nations to join in an effective, limitation.** ( Senator La Follette said the President's programme would meet with the approval of a larse majority of the pertple. Senator Caraway said: "I favour any conferenoo on arms limitation." Senator Hale, chairman of the Senate Naval Appropriations Committee, however, pointed out that President Coolidge'.s proposals would have no immediate effect on the proposed cruiser construction. He said the building of new cruisers contemplated would improve the position of the United States at such n conference. He understood that Mr Gibson, the newly-ap-pointed American Ambassador to Belilium, would be the United States delegate to the now conference, if it could lie arranged.

GREAT INTEREST IN BRITAIN. ADMIRALTY HAS OBJECTIONS. (AUSTRALIAN AKD K.Z. CABLt ASSOCIATION) (Received February 11th. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. Mr Coolidge's limitation of armaments message is given prominence in newspapers, but there is little serious comment as yet. Members of the House of Commons showed tlio keenest interest at Westminster when the news came off the tape machines. Mr Mac Donald, watching the message being ticked out, said it was a most si«iiiticant event with far-reaching consequences. tio far as the British attitude is concerned, successive Governments have always welcomed any extension of the principle of limitation of armaments. It is understood, however, that the Admiralty argues that a higher ratio should be allowed Britain, owing to the fact, that she has longer trade routes to protect than any Power. The "Daily Chronicle" says President Coolidge's proposal to separate naval disarmament from the larger issues conies at an opportune moment. "Preparatory commissions of enquiry," the paper says, "have served to reveal the infinite perplexity of the problem. h the five Powers can give an example ni denial as regards submarines and 1 misers, mar we not hope that tiio nest step will soon follow and that a plan will be devised for limiting aeroplane? and suppressing poison gas." The "Dsily Express" says: "President CoolidEC. speaking from all the security of the United States, gives the world an idealistic exhortation. We appreciate sentiment-, but what is really wanted is a formula that will permanently cure the nation' of warlike ir.ttntions."