NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 204, 12 August 1927, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

FAR FROM BEING COMPLETE FAILURE. MAY BE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FINAL AGREEMENT. (Received 12, 12.30 p.m.) (British Official Wireless). Rugby, Aug. 11. The Secretary of state for War, at a meeting last night, expressed the opinion that the Geneva naval conference, so far from being a complete failure, might yet prove to be the first step towards final agreement.

He said: “Do not let us think that because we were unable to reach satisfactory agreement with the Lulled States lor the limitation ol cruisers that we are less good trienUs with America, or that we are starting an armament race. We are doing nothing of the kind. Our programme has been public tor several years and, so far as one can see, there is certainly no need to increase it while there may, in fact, be the possibility ol postponing some of the expense which may be incurred in carrying it out, OPPORTUNITY LATER. “Do not let anyone think that because the Geneva meetings did not arrive at agreement no agreement is possible. 1 think it is quite probable that as the points of view of the two nations are better understood later there will be opportunity for again considering them. The object of both nations, which is limitation of expenditure on armaments, may be carried out and far from Geneva proving a failure it may be the first step towards final agreement.”