FRENCH DEFENCES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 82, 31 December 1929, Page 9

FRENCH DEFENCES

LARGE SUMS VOTED REJUVENATION OF NAVY GUARDING THE FRONTIERS (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) Paris, December 29. The Chamber of Deputies has voted large sums for naval and land defences, the former to conform to the fixed programme under which the whole of the navy will be rejuvenated by 1943. The Socialists and Communists challenged the expenditure on frontier defences, contending that it was out of harmony with France’s pacific professions at Geneva and The Hague. M. Maginot retorted that France would be more willing to work for peace if she felt her frontier secure. VIEWS OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE PREMIERS TO CONFER London, December 28. A message from Paris states that M. Tardieu, the Premier, will confer with Mr. MacDonald prior to the Naval Conference, in the hope of reconciling French and British views on some of the problems. SEA SUPREMACY FRENCH POLITICIAN’S OPINION Paris, December 29. M. Albert Milhaud, ex-Minister, writing in the “Hre Nouvelle,” gives it as his opinion that Great Britain has made up her mind to leave American waters and the Pacific to the United States on condition that she maintains supremacy in all the seas of Europe and en route to India and Australia. JAPANESE DELEGATION DISCUSSION WITH BRITISH (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, December 29. The Japanese delegation to the FivePower Naval Conference, which opens in London on January 21, has already arrived. The delegation is headed byMr. Wakatsuki, the former Prime Minister, and Admiral Tokarabe, Minister of Marine. The delegation has come early in order to have a preliminary discussion with the British authorities, as it did with the authorities in the United States on its way to England. The Tielegation will meet Mr. MacDonald himself before the conference. In a statement issued to the Press, Mr. Wakatsuki declared that all Japan wanted was the security of her Empire. He was confident that her pacific policy would enable her to co-operate in a friendly and effective manner with the other Powers in attainment of the noble objective of the conference. SPANISH ASPIRATIONS SEAT AT CONFERENCE CLAIMED Madrid, December 29. . It is understood that General 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, but particularly by her interests in the Mediterranean. General de Rivera points out that Spain aspires to become an important sea Power, navally and commercially.