NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE WORKING AGAIN,

[United Press Association--By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.]

LONDON, March 7

“Well the Conference has got back in working order and is going full steam ahead,” declared Mr MacDonald greeting journalists after a meeting of heads of delegations. A spokesman explained that some commentators said, ‘‘Don’t l lot yourselves get into figures.” ‘‘How could we get anything,” he asked, “hvithout figures. I cannot say what is going to be the result but unhesitatingly and unreservedly express the opinion that the work is going to be done.” Asked if he could suggest how long the Conference would last, ho replied it should not bo very long now. It was legitimate to say it had been prolonged. “We reckon to the Budget discussions of 14th April. It is still possible.” An official communique states, “Heads of delegations met in the morning and expressed deep sympathy with France’s loss of life, suffering and damage from the disastrous-floods.

M. Briarid returned thanks to his colleague sand emphasised the extent that France appreciated the sentiment.

The first committee’s first report dealing with general questions was referred to the third plenary committee and there reviewed in detail. Two closely related questions were referred back to the first committee for further examination. The Heads will again met on 19th. LONDON, March 7.

It is- understood that the Subcommittee of Experts considering the submarine unit tonnage are presenting what is virtually a majority report, indicating divergencies between the different Powers. The demands for maximum tonnage are at present irreconciliable.

MR MACDONALD’S MESSAGE. BROADCAST TO AMERICA. (British Official Wireless.) . .. , , RUGBY, Alarch 9. Confidence in an eventual agreement at the Naval Conference' was displayed by the Prime Minister, Mr MacDonald, to-night in a speech broadcast to American radio audiences and relayed from Chequers. He said circumstances, which none of the delegates could control, had delayed progress for three weeks, during which pessimistic rumours had been circulated. During the intervals experts (had been busy cleaning up points' which would- have delayed , tjie -Conference later on.

‘‘During the week we have -worked hard- but no one-tenth so hard as we should have done had there been any serious signs of the Conference failing.” He added that the thought of failure is not entertained at St. James Palace. .

The Prime Minister said they were trow' ‘at ’tfork discussing the actual programme and the programmes were a test of their belief in peace. “Up to this moment we have not met with any obstacle which looks as though it were to continue to be insurmountable. Technical experts will never get us over and through that ground but in London the last word rests with the statesmen and every one of us is- determined to get an agreement, not with two or three of us, but an agreement between the whole five of us. If you hear one day that we are in difficulty and another day that we have stuck., that may well be so, but do not then imagine us sitting in despair. Rather picture us thinking and planning, proposing and arguing, trying to find ways. We shall not give up till human ingenuity and patience have been exhausted and that is a long way. off yet.” The Pr'ime Minister ; recalled a ioint statement which during his American tour he and President Hoover issued, and which stated: “The part of each of our Government’s in promotion of world peace will be different as one will never consent to become entangled in European diplomacy and the other is resolved to pursue a policy of active co-operation with its European neighbours. but each of our Governments will direct its thoughts and influence towards securing and maintaining the peace of the world.” 1 The Prime Minister said there had been, no departure from that declaration. They would not agree to have any treaty which might , result from the Conference on entangling military alliances, but some of them would strive to secure as an essential part of the agreement, a pledge of goodwill and pacific intention similar to that made by the President and himself. After they bad convinced themselves \that a naval agrement was possible, such pledge ought to allow programmes to be reduced to a minimum. If they had any confidence in ealah other’s signatures the Prime Minister added, British and American delegations were on the highway to eliminating their own differences and co-operating most cordially in negotiation with other Powers to overcome difficulties and to build up a naval agreement which would reduce (building (programmes, abolish competition and put end to distrust and menace, and create an equilibrium in strength which would bring tranquility to the minds of the nations and lead to further results in the process of a disarmament agreement that would carry them on till 1936. '