NAVAL LIMITATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 11

NAVAL LIMITATION

DECLARATION OF BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCEPTANCE ESSENTIAL ALSO AGREEMENT AS TO WARSHIPS Britain and the United States have announced that they will only accept the limitation of naval effectives provided such limitation is generally accepted. ■ United t'wss Assoclntlon By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) Geneva, April 30. The Disarmament Committee adjourned the discussion on naval arma ments, in respect to which Britain and the United States announced that they would only accept the limitation of naval effectives provided that such a limitation was generally accepted and a satisfactory agreement reached respecting the limitation of warships. The matter will be discussed when the American delegation produces its scheme of naval disarmament. CONFERENCE CALLED THIS YEAR IF PRIOR CONVERSATIONS SUCCESSFUL (United Service.) London, April 30. The “Sun-Herald’s” political correspondent learned to-day that if tfie Anglo-American preliminary discussions on naval reduction are successful, a naval conference with the principal Powers will be called in 1929 to replace the Washington Conference due in 1931. It was stated in British offieia’ circles that the United States had already made it known to Britain that there were sufficient details additional to those published to permit of the immediate commencement of conversations. PROHIBITION OF GAS IN WARFARE BRITAIN TO RATIFY GENEVA PROTOCOL (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, April 30. Lord Cushendun, British delegate, announced at a meeting of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission at Geneva to-day that he had been authorised to state that His Majesty’s Government in Britain had decided to ratify immediately the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use of poison gas and of bacteriological methods in warfare, subject to the following reservations: — (1) The British Government is bound by the Protocol only vis-a-vis to those other States which have signed and ratified the Protocol or adhered thereto. (2) The British Government ceases to be bound by the Protocol vis-a-vis to any enemy States whose armed forces or whose allies do not accept the Protocol. Lord Cushendun added that he had also been asked to announce on behalf of the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Irish Free State that they desired a similar declaration to be made on their behalf. The Protocol was signed by 38 nations four years ago. It has been ratified by Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, Liberia, Soviet Russia, and Venezuela, and by France, with reservations similar to those of the British Government.

DENMARK’S DEFENCE FORCES PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH CONSCRIPTION Australian Press Association. (Rec. May 1, 8.30 p.m.) Copenhagen, April 30. The new Socialist Minister of Defence proposes to introduce voluntary service and abolish conscription. Sixteen hundred men will be trained for four months of the year, for which they will be paid nine shillings per day. All youths of the requisite age will be summoned and medically examined by lots.