FRENCH NAVAL PROPOSALS

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 9

FRENCH NAVAL PROPOSALS

THE BRITISH REPLY OPPOSED TO SUGGESTIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. PARIS, April 2G. The British reply to tho French proposals for a naval agreement has reached tho Foreign Office. Unofficially the reply is admittedly opposed to tho French suggestions. Press comment shows an unwavering determination not to consent to the Italian claims for parity, which, it is contended, are continually cropping up at every stage of the negotiations owing to Italy’s views on French replacements.

ITALY'S ATTITUDE ROME, April 2G. It is scmi-officially stated that Italy intends to declare that the French naval proposals are unacceptable. BRITAIN’S POSITION COUNTER PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. LONDON, April 27. (Received April 28, at 11 a.m.) If Britain accepted the French compromise in connection with the naval deadlock tho British Empire would probably be compelled to invoke clause 21 of the London 1930 Treaty, resulting in new naval building. Italy likewise considers the compromise hopeloss. Britain has accordingly submitted counter proposals, hut it is not expected hero that Franco will accept them, consequently the differences between Franco and Italy, which importantly bear on the British Empire’s naval position, are still far from settlement.