NOTHING SECRET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 September 1928, Page 5

NOTHING SECRET

NAVAL COMPROMISE. V • , % • ■ ~V. . EFFORT TO BREAK DEADLOCK. I MOTIVES. MISREPRESENTED. (UnittHl Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association —United Service.) LONDON, Sept. 22. A considerable stir lias been prc>tKited in London and Paras by the Jtjearst Press publishing a letter dealing with the Anglo-French “naval compromise."’ The letter itself is certainly not a compromise. it consists of only 26 or 3U lines of (dear, gprecdsia technical phrases. Summed np, they limit the construction of large cruisers and large submarines and allow liberty in the construction of oth-eal classes, always within tire Washington agreement. That is all. There is nothing secret; it is not a' military (alliance of any sort. Only five copies of the compromise exist. These are possessed by the Foreign Offices in London, Paris, Washington, Pome and Tokio. The Quai D’Orsay admits thali the publication appears to he eased on MBriancl’s letter to the French EmbasIsies. There is much petutbation as to - nine re the leakage occurred. “The Times’’ says the evidence shows that iboth Britain and France have been struggling (hard to find a way out of the (deadlock in aider to assist the Disarmament Oommissilon. The compro.misle was put |forwland as a possible basis for a calm, reasonable discussion, but the atmosphere has been poisoned by « prolonged) campaign of misrepresentation. The motives of both Governments were good, bub they committed an unfortunate error of procedure, Ihe world being what it is and the presidential election being in progress in the United States, they should have published forthwith their innocuous agreement. . , The Paris Press is surprised at Hlearsffs publication of the so-called secret clauses. Le Matih describes it os a- sensational bluff and .really prevarication designed to impress puohc opinion, “but it will have no effect on the American Government. ’ ’ WASHINGTON, Sept. 21. _ The draft reply to the British ana French Governments on the naval limitation question was under prepara- \ tidn by the State Department to-day for submission to President- Cooladge. The opinion is expressed that the reply will probably set -fourth that a- definite expression from the United States is- impossible in the absence of more explicit informa-tion from Britain and France concerning 'the chairaeter of the accord they have reached. _ It is understood the Umte.l States will not approve of any limitation of 10,000-ton ships and of the burkU'ng without limit of cruisers and submarines of smaller sizes. Meanwhile it will become a more open question 'than ever whether the United States would be represented at the next session of the .preparatory commission at Geneva arid- if -so whether its attendance would be more than perfunctory.