STRIVING FOR PACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 March 1930, Page 7

STRIVING FOR PACT

ISSUES NOW CLEAR BRITISH MINISTERS BUSY [BRITISH OFFICIAL ‘WIRELESS.] RUGBY, March 27. With this afternoon’s meeting of the heads of the delegations, the London Naval Conference is generally regarded as having entered upon anew phase. The issues confronting the conference are now clearly define , the work of the experts having cleared the ground of certain technical di Acuities. The Franco-Italian deadlock remains the chief obstacle to further advantage, but following a conciliatory speech of the French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, in the Senate last week, hopes are entertained that a solution may be found and that a Five Power Agreement, which is still the sole aim of the conference, may be achieved. M. Briand had a long conversation with the Foreign Secretary, Mr Henderson, this morning, and it is understood the political aspects of the problem before the conference were touched upon.

The Prime Minister, who entertained the United States experts attached to the conference, and their wives, at luncheon at his official residence, had a short conversation with M. Wakatsuki, chief Japanese delegate, just before the full meeting of the heads of the delegations was held at St. James's Palace this afternoon. Political issues were not raised at that meeting, ■which was very brief, but it is probable they will play an important part in the conversations which as the communique indicates, are contemplated in the course of the next week.

The communique says: “Discussion concerning the next plenary session was continued from the point where it had been left the previous meeting. It was agreed that the plenary session should be held on Friday, next week, when the progress of the conversations being held between members of the various delegations and of the committe’e work should be reported. The heads of the delegations meet again on Monday.”

WHAT FRANCE WANTS. PARIS, March 25. M. Briand, during the Budget debate in the Senate said that France had played a pacific role throughout the Naval Conference without losing sight of the country’s security. He said that an international assurance against any aggressoi’ was the only solid basis for peace. France had not built a, single ton of capital ships since the Washington Treaty. But France wished to safeguard her big colonial empire. He had not given up the hope of seeing the security problem successfully tackled. A BRITISH DENIAL. . (Received March 28, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 27. British spokesman, Neville Raymond, affirms that nothing is known in authoritative circles about Britain being willing to enter into a Mediterranean pact, without obligations.

U.S.A. PESSIMISTIC. WASHINGTON, March 27. The possibility of obtaining a FivePower Naval agreement at the London Conference is still felt to be remote to-day, despite Mr Stimson’s statement offering a consultative pact, provided that it involved no obligation to render any military assistance. Press despatches from Paris indicate that little importance is attached to Mr Stimson’s suggestion by the French Government. The Acting-Secretary of State, Mr Cotton, after a conference with President Hoover to-day, expressed the view that it was hardly likely that a. consultative pact would bring any reduction in the tonnage asked by the French. He said that the United States would not consider a military guarantee under any circumstances, since it,was felt that one would be provocative of international misunderstanding, as well as involving America in undertakings which her people would ndver underwrite.

“A PIOUS FRAUD.” WASHINGTON, March 27. Chairman Borah, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to-day referred to the consultative pact suggested in London as a pious fraud, which under the exigencies of the hour would be rejected. Mr Borah stated he regards the recent administration statements about a consultative pact of London, as indicating a reversal of the policy outlined in the first expression upon tho subject. He said there was a time, since the conference began when Mr Hoover believed that even the most innocuous type of consultative agreement would be construed to imply a military guarantee in some form. Chairman Britten, of the House Naval Committee, described it as silly and ridiculous. He declared that the conference was a “flop," and said that the American delegates should recognise this and come home.

JAPANESE DISSENSIONS. (Recd. March 28, 10 a.m.) TOKIO, March 27. Hamaguchi is facing the most severe * test of statesmanship on the question of instructions to London, in reply to the American proposal, which is bitterly opposed by powerful naval interests, capable of wrecking the Cabinet. Admiral Kato, head of the naval staff, threatens to resign unless the original demands are upheld. It will be several days before a reply is possible. Meanwhile, the civil authorities are apparently hopelessly endeavouring to reconcile the naval diehards. LIBERAL PARTY’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, March 27. A meeting of the Liberal Parliamentary Party decided not. to move, and not to support, any vital amendments during tho report stage, of the Coal Bill, and to abstain from a division on the third reading. Those present, referred to the uncertain position of the Naval Conference as justification for Liberal forbearance towards the Government.