NAVAL CONVENTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16566, 2 June 1914, Page 7

NAVAL CONVENTION.

A FRANCO-RUSSIAN SCHEME,

BRITAIN DECLINES TO JOIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. BERLIN, June 1.

The “ Taglische Rundschau ” says that Great Britain has definitely rejected the request of Russia and France to join in the Franco-Russian naval convention.

Sir Edward Grey intimated that his Government desired, in deference to British sentiment, to maintain good relations with Germany and avoid a step that might be regarded as directed against the latter.

A previous message said:—” The ‘ Daily Chronicle’s ’ Berlin correspondent says that the newspapers are discussing the report that an Anglo-Rus-sian naval agreement exists. Professor Scliiemnnn, confidential advisor to tho Kaiser, writing in the ‘ Kreuz Zeitung,’ pleads for a definite official utterance as to whether it is true that an Anglo-Franco-Russian naval convention exists concerning both the Mediterranean and tho Baltic.”