NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19814, 30 December 1929, Page 9

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

FRANCE MAY NOT SIGN TREATY.

AN AMERICAN OPINION. (nfITM PRKSB ASSOCIATION"—BT ELBCTS.'C TELE GBAPH—COPYRIGHT.; (Received December 29th, 5.5 p.m. ' NEW YORK, December 27. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says: The immediate reaction to the French memorandum was that unless the unexpected occurs, France will not sign any treaty for naval reduction or limitation at London. In the opinion of those best qualified to judge, Prance has so solidified her position on naval disarmament that no loophole permitting her to participate in a Five-Power agreement is offered. The prospects apparently are that there is a possibility that a FourPower agreement will eventuate from the London Conference. The prospect of an agreement between Britain. United States, Italy, and Japan are regarded as rather promising, in view of recent indications of Italy's attitude of sympathy towards a new effort for the curtailment of naval strength. Although the French Note caused no further disappointment, it is taken for granted that the prior feeling of discouragement has not been modified by the knowledge of its contents. PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS. ANGLO-AMERICAN AGREEMENT LIKELY. LONDON, December 27. The chief business of Mr Ramsay MaeDonald's preliminary meeting of the naval delegates on January 20th will be the choice of a chairman, who is most likely to be British. It in revealed that among America's minute preparations for the conference was an enquiry whether Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, as naval Dominions, have separate votes, or whether the British Commonwealth will vote as a single unit. The British reply made it clear that the conference ia not regarded as one at which matters will be decided by vote, but that it will be one of negotiation, in the hope of registering unanimous agreements. This official intimation, coupled with the knowledge ef Franeo-Italian disagreements strengtheng the impression in London that the most likely result of the conference is an Anglo-American agreement, something on the lines of Mr MacDonald'3 discussions with President Hoover. A FRENCH MEMORANDUM. LIMITATION OF TOTAL TONNAGE. LONDON, December 27. Daaljng with the general issue the French memorandum on naval armaments indicates preference for the limitation of total tonnage, but declares Franee'a readiness to adhere to a compromise regulating the distribution of tonnage among different classes of ships. Prance's policy is declared to be in-ter-dependenee in armaments. She hopes not to be obliged to deal with the questions relating to land and air armaments, but eanpot help pointing out that tonnage adequate for naval requirements stands in close relation to the general level of armaments. The memorandum adds that difficulties will not prevent France from seeking a solution which will enable the Powers so desiring from entering into a mutual agreement without waiting for the conclusion of an agreement for the limitation of all armaments. The memorandum contends that the reduction of armaments should be based on article eight of the League of Nations covenant.

JAPAN PROPOSES NEW RATIO.

NO AMERICAN COMMENT. WASHINGTON, December 27. Mr L. Stimaon (Secretary of State) has asked the French Embassy for a eopy of the statement on naval policy, in which the T&rdieu Government demanded that the London Conference be made secondary to the League of Nations Disarmament Conference. Mr Stimaon refused to comment on the Freneh statement as it appeared in the Press, or on the dispatches from Japan revealing that the United States and Great Britain had refused to aceept Tokyo's proposal for a 10 —10—7 ratio in auxiliary vessels. Mr Stimson said he did not believe a publie diseussion of these questions would be eondueive to success at London." By inference, however, Mr Stimson admitted that the United States had an answer for the Japanese request for 70 per cent, of the American cruiser, destroyer, and submarine tonnage. Such aetion would be in line with expectations that the Japanese original proposal was not final. JAPAN'S PACIFIC INTENTIONS. successful conference DESIRED. LONDON, December 27. The Japanese delegates to the Naval Conference have arrived in London, and were welcomed on behalf of Cabinet and the Admiralty. The ex-Prime Minister of Japan, M. Wakatrtiki, who heads the delegations, emphasised the pacific nature of Japan s policy, and her readiness to accept a naval strength inferior to Great Britain 'B. "We will do all m our power to smooth the conference's path," he said. "Our people and the Government are united in desiring a successful conference, and not merely the limitation but the reduction of naval armaments. Japan bps never thought of aggression. All she asks is security." THREE-POWER AGREEMENT OTHER AMERICAN OPINIONS. (Received December 29th, 0.0 p.m.) WASHINGTON. December 28. A three-Power naval armament agreement between Britain, Japan, an 4 the United States was recommendAsfsns SEraS

Committee, when commenting on the French memorandum on the forthcoming conference. Mr Britten added that the French attitude should not result in a breakdown of the conference.

The same opinion was advanced by Representative McClintie, a Democrat from Oklahoma, and a member of the .Naval Affairs Committee, who said that he saw no reason why, if France and Italy should withdraw from the conference, that the remaining nations could not negotiate an agreement which would avoid offending the countries not participating. Referring to a portion of the French document stating that France had no objection to other Powers making an agreement before a general scaling down of armaments by the League of Nations, Mr Britten asserted that the United States will not make an agreement subservient to subsequent action by the League.

SPAIN WANTS TO BE REPRESENTED. (Received December 30th, 12.38 a.m.) MADRID, December 28. It is understood that the Prime Minister. General Primo de Rivera, is negotiating to secure a seat at the London Naval Conference on the ground that Spain is entitled to it by her historical and geographical situation, and her national importance, hut particularly by her interests in the Mediterranean. He points out that Spain aspires to become an important sea Power.