DISARMAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 April 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

AMERICAN DISAPPOINTMENTS. A POOR RESPONSE. FR A NOE’S NON-PA R.TTCI PATTON. IV CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 9.50 a.m. to-day. WASHINGTON, April 5. President Goolidge is disappointed over France’s refusal to participate even unofficially at the disarmament conference, but intends to proceed with the conference. England and Japan have agreed to participate, and there is still hope that Italy may be repreisented.

FRANCE REFUSES. NO PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCE. PARIS. April 5. France lias dispatched a Note to Washington in reply tqi President Coolidge’is invitation. It reiterates the refusal to partake in the conference, even to 1 the extent of being represented by an ob,server, on the ground that n would weaken the authority or iin League of Nations. It emphasises that naval, military and aerial armaments aie inseparable. THE AEROPLANE PROBLEM. NUMBERS AND HORSE-POWER. GENEVA, April 5. Discussing the limitation of air forces the preparatory disarmament commission viewed favourably the Sweclisl. delegate's' proposal that there sliouk. be a limitation of both the horse-power and the number of machines, the purpose of the proposal being to avoid encouraging countries to build la.gt bombers, in order to make up for the limit of the number of aeroplanes, and also to avoid the encouragement or a large number of aeroplanes by rcuuc ing the horse-power. Two tables will be drawn up, indicating the maximum, horse-power, am. aircraft at the disposal of State. The United States, Belgian and German delegates approved of the pro posal, and Lord Cecil accepted it, will the reservation that the British L. v eminent gave its endorsemnt. It was felt that countries should only commit themselves to the aviation agreement for five years, in view of changes and devlopment-s in. this branch of defence.