FRANCE AND BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 1 September 1928, Page 9

FRANCE AND BRITAIN

: NATURE OF AGREEMENT ' CUSHENDUN EXPLAINS British Official Wireless. (Received Ist September, 10.30 aim.) BUGBY, 31st August. \ Lord Cushendun, in a statement to Press representatives at Geneva on the Anglo-French compromise regarding naval disarmament, emphasised that it was not a treaty, was not final, and contained no arrangements. for naval cooperation and no secret clauses. Ha. recalled the divergeneo of opinion between tho French and British in tho Preparatory Commission for Disarmament Conference in regard.to the principles on which naval disarmament might bo approached, and his announcement in that Commission last March of tho conversations proceeding in Geneva and Paris between Ministers and somotiines between experts for the purpose of reaching a compromise which would make further progress possible. CONSULTING OTHERS. The French and British reached an agreed-on text, but this was obviously only the first step since all tho other nations concerned must also come into agreement. Tho American, Italian, and Japanese Governments had thus beea invited to make observations on" the text and, if they agreed, it waa possible to hope that tho Preparatory Commission at its next meeting would accept the draft. The'~Goveniments concerned could, of course, suggest amendments and, if their own suggestions went deeper, then tho Commission would have- to approach tho issue- again, and Bearch for accord along other lines. Lord Cushendun added that the agreement, which was secured by a single text, was between two draft conventions, and consisted of a few short but technical clauses, and its publication was naturally delayed until the Governments most concerned, to whom it had been communicated, had had the opportunity to consider their replies.