ITALY’S ATTITUDE.

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1927, Page 5

ITALY’S ATTITUDE.

ON ARMAMENTS. Naval Limitations Disliked. (Received February 22 at 7,40 p.m.) KOAIE, February. 22.The Italian reply’ re an armament eon ferenee fully appreciates the spirit guiding President Coolidge in his disarmament proposals, but insists upon the undeniable interdependence ol every kind of armament and of every single power. It would not be pansjble therefore, to adopt partial measures, limited to the live great, powers. The. lijuitation of armnqipats, in order to be. efficacious, says Ilajy, must b< universal.

The reply points on.( that the- minoi nav.;il powers, hud.- njt followed the Washington, example, and also that the conference hold at Rome in 1924 with the object, of an extension of the Washington principles to the non-signatory powers had proved unsuccessful. It draws attention t,o Italy’s unfavourable geographical situation, especially in the Mediterranean in which .other nations have a weightier position. It emphasises that Italy could not expose herself without grave rjsk§. to a limitation of her naval armaments, which already are insufficient for hei 1 defensive needs.