CONFERENCE A FAILURE?

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1930, Page 5

CONFERENCE A FAILURE?

OMINOUS PRESS COMMENTS APPEAL TO U.S.A. (By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.) LONDON, February 15. Mr Garvin, in an outspoken article in the “Observer,” says: “The Conference has come to grips with a vengeance giving shocks to the Peace Pact and parity. The first Anglo-Ameri-can accord is strained by the American desire to build the world’s largest and most destructive floating fortress. Secondly, Japan is claiming submarine equality with the British Empire and the United States. . Thirdly, France has put forward an astounding programme, creating her a first-class naval Power in addition to being the -world s supreme military and Air lowei. Britain on the grounds of parity does not object to America building-a superRodney, but the proposition set backs the whole cause of disarmament. In view of the French programme entail ing her submarine superiority, Britain would be forced to increase her destroyers. Is the dreary pre-war system of competitive armaments to be continued even by the Kellogg ac signatories? The Conference will fail if a statement does not rise above tech nical details, and insist on a change of mind and outlook. The “Sunday Times” in an editorial savs- The five principal Naval Powers are engaged in discussing armaments in terms of war. The fact cannot be escaped that the whole trend of the discussion presupposes the respective fleets will be engaged against one another. The reason is obvious, int Kellogg Pact is not trusted. It remains a pious resolution witliom machinery. The whole thing rests with America. They originated to Pact. Will they back it with deeds. Either the nations must show they mean what they say about peace, or the discussions at St. James Palace must become but a base for a new race in armaments, that is bound to end in war. Everything depends on America. Will Mr Hoover make a moment ous historical appeal to his countiymen. We believe that they would respond.