THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 13

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

A CONSULTATIVE PACT.

FRENCH ATTACH LITTLE IMPORTANCE. TO KITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BT ELECTRIC TKLEGSAPH —00 PTRIOHT.' (Received March 27th, 7.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 27. The possibility of obtaining a fivePower naval agreement at London was felt to-day to be remote, despite Mr H. L. Stimson's statement offering a consultative pact provided it involved no obligation to render military assistance.

Press dispatches from Paris indicate that little importance is attached to Mr Stimson's suggestion by» the French Government.

The Acting-Secretary of State, Mr Cotton, after a conference with President Hoover to-day, expressed the view that it was hardly likely that a consultative pact will bring any reduction in the tonnage asked by the French. The United States will not consider a military guaranty under any circumstances, since it is felt that it would be provocative of international misunderstanding, as well as involving America in undertakings which her people would never underwrite.

ARRIVAL OF FRENCH DELEGATES.

IMPORTANT MEETING TO BE HELD. (BRITISH ornciXt. WIRELESS.) RUGBY, March 26. The French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, arrived in London to-night to resume his work in connexion with the London Naval Conference. He was met by the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Arthur Henderson. The Prime Minister will preside over a meeting of the delegations which has been called for to-morrow afternoon. In view of the developments which have occurred since the beginning of last week, when tho principal members of the Fronch delegation left for Paris, much importance is attached to the meeting. Mr H. L. Stimson, head of the Ataerican delegation, had a further long conversation with Mr Ramsay Mac Donald at the House of Commons this afternoon.

NO CHANGE IN BRITISH POLICY. i LONDON, March 20. A crowded gathering of journalists confronted the British spokesman, who began discouragingly, "Nothing, gentlemen." He added:

"Naturally, as the result of M. Briand's speech, the question of a pact is very much in the air." He did not presume to interpret the other delegations' views. Personally, he would not say there was any change in the British policy. Certainly, Mr Ramsay Mac Donald had not made any suggestions in conference, and the subject did not arise at yesterday's meeting of the heads of the delegations. They must await developments till M. Briand returhs.

U.S.A. OPPOSED TO CONSULTATIVE PACT.

WASHINGTON, March 26. Mr J. P. Cotton, acting Secretary of the State Department, stated emphatically to-day that the Government would not consider any consultative pact making military support obligatory. He said the position outlined by the delegation in London was that of the officials hero.

GENERAL outlook CHANGED. PLENARY SESSION OP HOPE. LONDON, March 25. During tho day the general outlook of the Naval Conference changed completely, every delegation to-night openly avowing renewed hope that the Conference, as a quintette, will yet bo saved. No single decisioh or fit-in concessionary offer is at present ro.ported, but Mr H. L. Stimsbh and Mr Itam&ay Mac Donald, ill a momentous talk in the morning, seemed to have resolved to make a final concerted attempt to get back to fundamentals and pull things together. Later, after a meeting of the heads* of delegations, at which M. Duraesnit. French Minister for Marine, acted for M. Briahd, the tone of both the communique and the semi-official announcements took a totally different character from that which was expected before yesterday's proposals for a six months adjournment. Emphasis must be laid on two important facts which have been vouchsafed semi-officially. The first is that the Italian adjournment proposal was hot eveu mentioned at the afternoon meeting; and, second, next week's plenary session is specifically and officially described as a plenary session of hope, hot of desperation. Neither Paris nor Rome has yet reported any concrete development justifying what is described here as the last fillip of official hopefulness, but well-informed observers are linking up the more conciliatory tone of M. Rriand's announcement with French Press admissions that a three-Power treaty would in no way suit Fraftce.