NAVAL CONVERSATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1929, Page 3

NAVAL CONVERSATIONS

O— A FRENCH REPORT. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 7. The “Daily News” republishes an article contributed by Gustav M. Pertinax to the “L’Echo de Paris,” following on the receipt of a private letter from the United States, confirming “revelations” that were published a few days ago, to the effect that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, while in the United States, considered the making of concessions in connection with the freedom of the seas, which some members of his Cabinet, including Mr. Philip Snowden, regarded with such alarm, that there was a possibility of two resignations. It was stated that the proposals would, In Mr. Snowden’s opinion, have impaired British naval efficiency in the Pacific, and also that Mr. MacDonald was ready to declare food ships inviolate in war time, thus rendering a blockade impossible. s. The Pertinax article goes further. It says that Mr. MacDonald, becoming intoxicated by his United States reception, allowed President Hoover not only to seek a freedom of the seas agreement, but to dismantle and suppress Canadian naval bases. M. Pertinax refers to Mr. Snowden as “bluntly warning Mr. MacDonald over the Atlantic telephone”, and threatening to resign. M. Pertinax commends Mr. Snowden’s patriotism and courage, and predicts that Mr. MacDonald will not tell the House of Commons about the incident.