FRENCH POLICY CRITICISED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1930, Page 5

FRENCH POLICY CRITICISED

LONDON, February 14. The Daily News says:—The French statement demonstrates that Fiance alone among the nations of the world will become a first-class Power both as a military and a naval Power. Il is not a crime against civilisation, but it provides food for reflection. , real question is whether M. Tardieu s figures represent France’s last word. If they do the prospects of the Naval Conference are not bright. ■ Mr. Stimson is giving a luncheon to the Dominion delegates at a country house, “Stanmore,” on Sunday. PARIS, February 12.

The whole Press reflects disappointment and pessimism at the progress and prospects of the Conference Everywhere the need for guarantees 'of security is emphasised. “Le Temps” typically says: It is time the Powers gave up hopes of duping us. If there is a real desire to cut down navies let them show confidence by signing mutual positical agreements. ITALIAN SINCERITY ROME, February 15. The “Tribuna’ ’states it will be interesting to see how far the conference succeeds in abating French demands. Just as Washington resulted in the recognition of America as a naval power, London is called on to recognise France as navally equal to Bri tain and America. Only Italy has the sincere loyal desire to reduce armaments. MR. HOOVER’S HOPES WASHINGTON, February 15. With dispatches from London indicating that as the Conference approaches its second month, the three main hopes, namely, reduction of tonnage, abolition of submarines, and eliminatio nof battleships have been disappointing to an extent “that statesmen have now realised the chief results will be some of the finest naval construction programmes the world has yet seen.” The Hoover administration, nevertheless, is not downcast, nor fearful of the results. The President feels the Conference outlook is as favourable as could be expected. It is felt that the prospective treaty will provide for little or no immediate reduction by scrapping, except battleships, and that the agreement will consist of a ‘“stabilisation programme” for the navies of the world based on limitation of categories and replacements, and thus will lead to an actual reduction at the next naval conference, now tentatively projected for 1935.

GERMAN OPINION BERLIN, February 14. German naval circles are apparently keenly following the work of the Naval Conference. They comment on what they term the hypocrisy of the French alarm over the new German battleship, “Ersatz Preussen,” and allege that France in the next five years is likely to build four fifteen thousand ton super-cruisers, more heavily armed than the “Ersatz Preussen.” The German Foreign Office describes the introduction of the “Ersatz Preussen” into the London discussion as “a poisoned bullet.” The “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” says: If M. Tardieu’s statement is intend'ed as a hint to Germany not to continue building pocket battleships, it will fall on deaf ears. The Ministry of Defence is determined to build to the limits of the Versailles Treaty, despite the Socialist opposition.

JOURNALISTS ENTERTAINED (Recd. Feb. 17, 8 a.m.). LONDON, February 15. A parity of British and foreign journalists attending the Naval Conference were guests of the Premier at The Chequers. He and Miss Ishbel received them and showed them the house, gave them tea, and walked on the estate, after which Mr. MacDonald sat at a fireside, conversing intimately with the guests under the cosiest conditions. This is the first time that

any Premier has had such a party, but politics were not mentioned. HENRY FORD’S PROPOSAL. NEW YORK, February IG. A despatch from Fort Myers, Florida states that Mr Ford would buy up all the navies of the world, if he thought it would end war, but he does not believe that it would. He said: “You cannot stop war, just by taking away the weapon that is at hand. Men fought before there were battleships or before there were guns. The only way to end war is to teach the fellows who profit by it that they oan profit more in some other way.” Ho intimated that lie might consider buying the warships ordered to be scraped by treaties. He would cut them up and turn their steel into automobiles and tractors.