THE FIRST SESSION

Evening Star, Issue 19589, 22 June 1927, Page 4

THE FIRST SESSION

BRITAIN'S PROPOSALS GENEVA, June 2a The opening session of the Naval Limitations Conference was not an impressive function. An historic feature was that the United States participated for the first time in any conference held at Geneva since the formation of the League of Nations. The early proceedings emphasised that the conference was breaking new ground. It had no precedents to guide it, and no agenda before it, for though it is a sequel to the Washington Conference it is unlike it because _ only three Powers are represented, while the Washington gathering was _ more embracing and was assembled in tho face of a clear-cut programme. - The speeches were entirely devoid of oratory or eloquence, all being care-fully-read documents. Mr W. C. Bridgeman specially emphasised that Britain’s proposals were made with the consent of all the dominions’ representatives, but were in accordance with the decisions of the Imperial Conference. Any resulting treaty would be made in the names of the heads of the various dominions agreeing to participate. He also went out of his way to stress the fact that Britain’s proposals were formed to make it easier, and not harder, for France and Italy to join the conference. He added that he believed -that the success of the conference depended more upon a statement in plain language of what each nation wanted in the shape 'of a navy, and why it wanted it, than on rhetoric. . Britain is represented by Mr W. O. Bridgeman, Viscount Cecil, Vice-Ad-miral Sir Frederick Field, and New Zealand by Sir James Parr, Earl Jellicoe, and Rear-Admiral Beal. There are 150 journalists present, representing newspapers in all parts of the world. ■ Tho conference cabled to President Coolidge, expressing the most profound appreciation of his humane and wise initiative, and stating that it was hopeful of having satisfactory results. President Coolidge replied that an Anglo-American-Japanese _ agreement, preventing naval competition, < would lastingly cement the present good relations, and constitute a definite step towards the general limitations of armaments. America would make the utmost effort to ensure an agreement. After fixing times for _ committee meetings, the conference adjourned.