FRENCH SECURITY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1930, Page 5

FRENCH SECURITY

GUARANTEE REQUIRED

FROM FIVE GREAT POWERS

(By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

LONDON, March 10.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: M. Briand’s conversations with Mr Ramsay MacDonald and with the American delegates during the week-end have again revived, • although less directly, the question of whether Britain, as a con dition to a reduction of France’s naval building, shall enter into further war commitments for the defence of French security. France will not be content with a mere undertaking of the five Powers to take counsel together in the event of a threat of war. M. Briand wishes them to declare war unthinkable as between any of their number. He alsp requires them to bind themselves that, should war become imminent, they will concert measures, including coercive measures for the prevention of such conflict.

The “Telegraph’s" correspondent is of the opinion that it may be safely assumed that ,any further War 'commitments will be opposed! to the uttermost by the British Dominions, and assures that without Dominion cooperation, Britain could not enter any such treaty without grave risks, in the event of war, to the united Empire.

M. Briand was entertained at lunch at The Chequers, by the Prime Minister. Other guests included Mr A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary), Mr Craigie of the Foreign Office, M. Massigli, a membei* of the French Delegation, and Captain Bellair, of the Admiralty. On his return, M. Briand said that the conversations had been so tentative that it would be useless to say what they were. He added, however, that he had re-affirmed the French position, and that the conversations had been political.

TONNAGE TOTALS.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS (Recd. March 11, 11.30 a.m.). LONDON, March 10. A communique states: “The heads and other members of the United States, French, \ British and Belgian delegations held , a conversation at St. James’ Palace in the forenpop. Certain technical questions were found to require exploration. The French Minister of Marine and the First Lord of the Admiralty, accompanied by a technical adviser, with American observers, were asked to consider these immediately and to report as soon as possible, in order to give time for the continuous prosecution of this inquiry. The Italians and Japanese gave assent to a postponement of the meeting of the heads of delegations fixed for 3 p.m., till Tuesday. A further meeting of three delegations will be held on Wednesday at three o’clock, or earlier if the technical report is ready.” The British spokesman, explaining the communique, assured pressmen that the political question of a guarantee did not arise. Instead, the matter of Anglo-French tonnage totals had been taken up, in the hope of getting down to bedrock, with a view to fitting them into the category table. The presence of figures and of American observers throws into perspective the course of the Conference which is tackling the Anglo-French figures.

The first part of the morning’s discussion concerned the British, Japanese, and American figures, which have now been put aside, very satisfactory progress having been made in this quarter. Nothing definite has been decided, nor -would it until the whole whole flve-Power treaty falls into place. The Americans are looking on helpfully, while the British and French figures are being discussed, because the ultimate settlement of European figures must control the whole settlement of the British, Japanese, and American totals. The allusion to the satisfactory progress with the British, Japanese, and American figures is understood to refer to the complete agreement that the United States and Japan should have a ratio of fifteen-twelve in large cruisers, leaving more tonnage to build smaller' ships. Incidentally, America comes down to Britain’s idea to be satisfied with fifteen 10,000-ton-ners.

GERMAN FLEET’S CRUISE. LONDON, March 9. “The Times’s” Berlin correspondent states: A German squadron, for the first time since the war, is making a long voyage in foreign waters. The Reichstag Budget Committee has voted £ll,OOO for a Mediterranean cruise by four battleships, a cruiser, and nineteen torpedo boats.