ARMS MANUFACTURE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 92, 16 March 1927, Page 9

ARMS MANUFACTURE.

PUBLICITY OF STATISTICS. BRITAIN AN AMERICA IN FAVOUR. GENEVA, March 15. At a preliminary session of the special committee on the private manufacture of arms, Mr Gibson explained that America favoured the fullest publicity for statistics of all manufactures. He would insist on the Government munition factories in Europe being subject to the same publicity as private manufacturers. He declared his belief that a convention on this subject v T ould be of considerable assistance towards the eventual limitation and reduction of armaments.

Viscount'Cecil indicated that Britain had no objection to the American viewpoint, but the other delegates declared that they were not authorised to consider the question of State manufactures. The debate was adjourned. —A. and N.Z. cable.

NAVAL LIMITATION. FRANCE AND THE CONFERENCE. PARIS, March 15. In response to a new Note from Washington it is generally believed that the French Government will be repreesnted by an observer at the Naval Disarmament Conference. —A. and N.Z. cable. FRENCH PRESS RETICENT. OBSERVER MUST KEEP DISTANCE Received March 16, 9.25 a.m. PARIS, March 15. The press gallery is shy at the suggestion that France should have an observer at the Naval Disarmament Conference, contending that the danger to France’s interests has not been removed. “Pertinax,” writing in the Echo de Paris, is of opinion that France’s refusal to attend has made President Coolidge more circumspect. “The idea of an observer is not a bad solution,'’ states the writer, “but an observer must speak laconically and keep his distance from the net set to catch him.” —A. and N.Z. cable.