NAVAL LIMITATION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 112, 5 February 1926, Page 9

NAVAL LIMITATION

ANOTHER WASHINGTON CONFERENCE MAY BE CALLED BY PRESIDENT COOLIDGE President Coolidge, who was disappointed at the postponement of the Geneva Conference, has revived the idea of calling another Washington Arms Conference. It is expected he will extend invitations to the larger Powers, believing that the question of further naval limitation should be dealt with by them, without the representation of small non-naval states.

Br- Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright.

'fßec. February 4, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, February 3. ft is authoritatively learned that President .Coolidge is disappointed at the postponement of the Geneva Conference, and has now revived the idea of calling another Washington Arms Conference for the following reasons: (1) He believes that further naval limitation should be handled by the naval powers concerned, without the representation of small non-naval States. (2) American participation in the Geneva Conference would draw the United States into European disputes.

(3) President Coolidge is anxious to combat the agitation for larger United States armaments, which will be difficult unless further limitations are agreed to. (4) He desires to fulfil his 1924 election pledge to assume the leadership in world disarmament. It is expected he will extend invitations to the major Powers next summer or autumn for a conference in the winter or 'spring.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The League of Nations’ preliminary disarmament inquiry has been postponed until May 15, at the request of several nations, it being deemed desirable first to have Germany in the League and to overcome the Soviet’s objections to Geneva as the venue.]