NAVAL LIMITATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 113, 12 April 1929, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATION

BRITAIN AND AMERICA,

QUESTION AGAIN RAISED,

IMPORTANT DISPATCH,

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, April 10. The New York Times's correspondent at Washington states that Washington lias sent the following'important dispatch relative to armament limitations : • “The substantial hope exists that another conference on naval limitations will eventuate in the near- future. This much may be said at least. Tins' Hoover Administration will be willing to meet the British Government half way in any overture designed to reconvene the Tripartite Conference of 1927. . “It is now clear that the United States is willing to consider discarding any tonnage limitation by categories of ships and seek arrangements on a basis of classes of ships that take into consideration the respective requirements of Britain and the United States. This would permit limitation by types of cruisers and their displacement and armament, and avoid controversy over the free building of any types of cruisers within the total tonange set forth for the geenral category-’ of ships.”. • , The dispatch adds that in order to overcome the obstacle of the possibility of any nation obtaining an advantage in fighting strength, it may be necessary that the British. Government adopt the principle ’.hat there never will be war between the two nations. It may be stated that while such suggestion may be scoffed >at in British naval circles, the United States will be willing to oner encouraging reasons for its acceptance.” The message further adds that the United States would agree that no professional men should serve as delegates to the conference, the problem being more political than technical, and that as a preliminary to such a conference, and in order to ensure success, there be prolonged exchanges between the two Governments. The hope is expressed that the Geneva Preparatory Conference may offer an opportunity for the experts of the two nations to get together and initiate a movement for the conference. PREPARATORY- DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE.

TWENTY-FOUR NATIONS. (Times Cables.) LONDON, April 11. Twenty-four nations will be represented at the session of the Preparatory Disarmament Conference, winch opens at Geneva on April 15. The nations include the United States, Turkey and Russia which do not belong to the League. Mr H. S. Gibson. Ambassador to Belgium, and Admiral Jones will represent the United States M. Litvinoff is acting for the Foreign Commissar of Russia. Lord Cushenden will represent Britain.