NAVAL CONFERENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 7

NAVAL CONFERENCE

POSITION HOPELESS. ONLY A THREE POWER PACT. CORRESPONDENT’S FORECAST. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 5. A diplomatic correspondent says that the Naval Conference is drawing to an end. Tho negotiations between Britain and France have come to no conclusion, and the prospect of success is minute. The Italians are pressing for a final plenary session next week. After taking luncheon with Mr Ramsav MacDonald, M. Briand discussed the situation with M. Tardieu in Paris. M. Briand told the French Premier that they concluded that the position was hopeless. The latest British suggestions were not acceptable, and the search for a formula mu6t be abandoned.

The Americans feel that Britain and France have been trying to do a job too big for the time and place. The correspondent forecasts that the British and French negotiations will be abandoned at the week-end, and that a plenary session will be held about Wednesday. The technical work of drafting a three-Power pact will begin. and should be ready for signing before Easter, thus enabling Mr H. L. Stimson to travel on the liner Leviathan on Easter Tuesday morning. The Morning Post’s special correspondent understands that serious differences have arisen in the Cabinet on the subject of the French demands. Some Ministers are opposed to any formula, however mild, committing Britain further. Signor Grandi proposes to depart for Italy on April 15. He has urgent engagements in Rome. M. BRIAND LEAVES FOR PARIS. LONDON, April 6. Mr MacDonald, Mr Arthur Henderson and Sir Robert Vansittart were today again engaged with M. Briand in a renewed attempt to find a formula that will satisfy the French craving for judicial instruments. M. Briand afterwards went to Paris, and will return on Tuesday. Before his departure he said that the British and French viewpoints were closer, and that progress had been made. __ _ It is estimated that the visiting delegations to the Naval Conference have spent more than £200;000 on accommodation and entertaining. The American delegation has been living at the rate of £6OO a day. The United States Government originally provided a fund of £40,000. This was augmented by £30,000. NO CHANGE AT WEEK-END. QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. (British Official Wireless). Received April 7, 11 am. RUGBY, April 6. As was anticipated, the London Naval Conference underwent no change during the week-end. Many of the delegates attended the England versus Scotland football match yesterday afternoon, and at its conclusion the Prime Minister motored to Chequers, where he spent a quiet day to-day, no important interviews having been ■ arranged. Most of the other delegates spent to-day out of London. . ■ Pending the return of M., Briand it is not likely that any important change in the situation will take place, as political questions, which have been the subject of conversations between France and Britain, form the chief obstacle to further advance. No fewer than nine questions are down for answer in the House of Commons to-morrow bearing on the political aspect of the conference, and the interpretation of Article 16 of the League Covenant. They display fear that a formula interpreting Britain’s obligations under the existing pacts and covenants might imply a new guarantee to France. It lias, however, been repeatedly stated by the Prime Minister that the Government, while willing to define and explain the extent of Britain’s undertakings, is not prepared to increase her commitments. Mr Hugh Gibson, American Ambassador to Belgium, and one of the American delegates to the Naval Conference, delivered a radio address to the United States this afternoon. He said that during the past week a definite agreement had been reached between the United States, Great Britain and Japan. The results attained so far were beyond reasonable expectations. There was good reason to hope that a fivePower agreement might be signed before the conference concluded. If such an agreement could not be had at this session, a three-Power agreement could be made on a basis which would welcome as parties to it the other two Powers when their difficulties had been solved. FRENCH CONSTRUCTION. PARIS, April 6. President Doumergue, in the course of a speech he delivered before tire Chamber of Commerce, stressed the necessity for France to become a great naval constructing nation, in order to assure the security and development of her colonial trade and the protection of her overseas commerce.