ANGLO-FRENCH NAVAL AGREEMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1928, Page 8

ANGLO-FRENCH NAVAL AGREEMENT.

■ ; » , ' ; UNOFFICIAL RETORT BY HEARST PAPERS DAMAGING SECRECY. 2 Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 22. ■s A stir has been produced in London and Paris by the Hearst Press publish- , ing a letter' dealing with the AngloFrench 'Naval compromise. The letter itself is certainly not a compromise. This consists of only 25 to ..30 lines of clear, precise technical J phrases. Summed up, they limit the ■ construction of large cruisers and large • submarines, and allow liberty in tne construction of other classes, but always within the Washington agreement. That is all. There is nothing secret. It is not a military alliance of any sort. Only five copies of the Compromise exists and these are' possessed by the Foreign Officers in London, Paris, - Washington,'Rome and Tokio. The Quai d 'Orsay admits that the _ publication appears to be based on M Briand's letter to the French'Embassies, but there is much perturbation as to where the leakage occurred. The "Times'' says the .evidence shows that both Britain and France have.been struggling hard to find a way out of the deadlock in order to assist the Disarmament Commission. The ' compromise is put forward as a possible basis, for calm, reasonable discussion, but the atmosphere has been poisoned by the prolonged campaign of misrepresentation. The motives of both Governments were good, but they commit- 1 " ted an unfortunate error of procedure. The world being what it is and a Presidential election being in. progress in the United States, they should have published forwith their innocuous agreement. ' ! ''Sensational Bluff" j FRENCH NEWSPAPERS COMMENT ON REPORT. PARIS, Sept. 22. The Press is surprised at the Hearst Press publication of the so-called secret clauses. "Le Matin "-describes it as a sensational bluff :ind ivaily n prevarication designed to impress public opinion, but it will have no effect on the American Government. U.S. Official Opinion SEEKING MORE EXPLICIT -DETAILS FROM PARTIES. Received Sundtiv, 7.0 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 22. The" draft reply to the British and French Governments on the naval limitation question was under preparation by the State; Department to-ilay for submission to President Ooolidge. The opinion is expressed that the reply, will probably set forth that a definite, expression from the Unite I States is impossible in the absence of more explicit information ' from Britain and France "concerning the character of the accord they have reached. It is understood the United States "will not approve of any limitation of 10,000-ton snips or the building 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 and if so wheth- ; er her attendance would be more than [ prefunctory. , State Department officials declined . to comment upon the Press despatch : printed by the Hearst papers to-day purporting to give the text of a letter from the French Foreign Ministry., to its diplomats -abroad outlining the scope of the Anglo-French limitation understanding.