NEW ARMS CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1925, Page 7

NEW ARMS CONFERENCE

TO LIMIT COMPETITION

IN AUXILIARY NAVAL CRAFT.

(OHtTID PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIRMHT.) (REUTER'6 TELE3RAIS.)

"WASHINGTON, 18th Feb,

The principal Powers have been approached by the United States on the subject of a now anus conference. The discussions have not yet got beyond the point characterised, by diplomatists as "formal negotiations," but they have been followed up quietly and persistently in all the principal capitals of the worfd. Officials here will not discuss what obstacles have been encountered, or what measures of success appear to ie held out by the exchanges of views up to the present. - ' ■' • The State Department, after being advised of the announcement of the move made in the House of Commons by Mr. Aueten Chamberlain, the British Foreign Secretary, revealed that similar 'conversations have taken place in Paris, Tokio, and other capitals. The feelers put out by Washington are intended to ascertain whether there is any change in the attitude of the foreign 'countries who blocked, at the time of the Washington Conference,' the limitation of any class of laud or sea armament except capital ships. The hrst desire of President Coolidge is to secure an agreement that will end the competition in auxiliary naval craft. Hu will also Welcome the limitation of land armaments, but he regards that as a European question. _It'is emphasised that the informal discussions now in progress do not mean a departure from the policy announced long ago.