PROGRESS BEING MADE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 February 1930, Page 7

PROGRESS BEING MADE

CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS AN ITALIAN PROPOSAL i , • | ; •• ' - , COMPLETE SCRAPPING OP PIG

United Pr*a» AsscclaticmT-liv Electric Tele* rap.

f Copyright,.) LONDON, Feb. 12. To-dayprogress at the naval conference was real, but severely technical. The outstanding fact is that the experts have at last reaolied the stage of a printed report of a compromise, between the :global and categorical methods; including as a schedule a table Of categories favoured by Britain in a form acceptable to France and, Italy and available to all other naval Powers .willing to adopt it, if and when it becomes part of the League of Nations’ Disarmament Convention. As some committeemen have insisted, the value of the table is difficult to make plain until tlie blanks for total tonnage are filled in, but the table seems to otter a compromise solution of a problem that lias hitherto proved insoluble. The Italian Press Bureau foreshadows an early Italian statement proposing that the great Powers scrap capital ships and also a number of heavy cruisers, holding the view that if that is done there will be no need for the smaller Powers to have submarines. Conference circles consider that there is little hope of such a sweeping plan being adopted, though it is suggested that any reduction in big tonnage strengthens the ease for whittling down submarines. Thus Italy’s plan is directly’ related to the British and American scrapping discussions.

REDUCTION URGED. BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. ‘ Oh, parity question; what crimes are committed in thy name!” exclaimed Senator Borah, when he delivered his first public utterance on the London conference, attacking the American) proposal to build another battleship. ‘*lf parity can be had by reduction,, I am for parity,” he continued. ‘‘lf it can be had only r by spending millions on the kind of ships which never, in all human probability, will be used, then I feel no interest in parity. I see no justification in our building or claiming the right to build one battleship What possible justification can there be for expending largo sums of money in building more battleships which some of ■the brightest minds in the naval world declared to be obsolete? Can any reasonable person contemplate the burden due to armaments which all the people are now carrying and realise the weight now resting upon the taxpayers in every civilised country of the world and then contemplate the useless waste of money in building a battleship in the name-of parity?” Commenting on Senator Borah’s speech. Senator F. Brittain stated that if an understanding was reached to allocate a new super-dreadnought to the United States, which would necessitate an outlay of ■ approximately 50, 000,000 dollars, the vessel would never be built. The understanding, according to Senator Brittain, would merely be by way of a sop to American naval enthusiasts, and he suggested that if the American delegation “were going to play r into the hands of Britain it would be well for them to pack up their trunks and come home.” Senator Brittain added that he would also oppose the proposed construction of 11 six-inch-gun cruisers, since these suited the British needs, while the United States needed 10,000-ton cruisers yvith eight-inch guns. He called the American proposals patchwork, and said he was unable to understand how Air. Stimson could put them forward irrespective of preserving a balance in the American fleet. “Scrap the Rodney; that will settle the proposition,” added Senator Brittain.

CRITICISMS OF AMERICAN 3>E(LEIG ATI ON. “SHOOTING AT A PIANO PLAYER/.” WASHINGTON, Feb. 12. The State Department refuses to answer criticisms of the American delegation in London while the conference is in session, but the general feeling is expressed by Mr Cotton, Acting-Secretary of State, who said: “This business of shooting at - piano player is an indoor spprt which I .deplore.” He added 1 that he had received no communication from Mr Stimson bearing upon the proposal that the United States should build a new super-dreadnought. He refused to comment further.

Senator Metcalf proposed that the United States should purchase the Rodney and charge the price against the British debt to America. “EMPIRE DISUNITY.” CRYPTIC UTTERANCE EXPLAINED LONDON, Feb. 12. ' Around Mr. te Water’s cryptic utterance yesterday the French Press has again woven a story of Empire disunity. The “Echo de Paris” says: “Mr Fenton and Mr. Wilford had they dared, would have ranged, themselves behind their outspoken South African colleague.” Mr. te Water, however, was merely suffering from an overdose of tact and caution. The Australian Press Association ascertained that what he tried to convey was that he was unable to see the logic of anyone trying to argue that submarines could be any good.

Mr. te Water told a “Sun” correspondent that several requests had been made to him for an explanation of hits speech, which seemed to have surprised people. “There is nothing surprising about it,” he said. “Having heard the other speeches, I decided to indicate what in my mind was their effect. I think we would get much further by an objective and not a subjective examination of the problem. The younger nations are anxious for peace. Coming here with a fresh outlook we see the position in a better perspective than those on the spot. I endeavoured to speak as the representative of one of the younger nations, frankly expressing a fervent desire to abolish warfare.”