NAVAL CONFERENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 116, 12 April 1930, Page 10

NAVAL CONFERENCE

3 P-M- EDITION

EFFECT OF AGREEMENT. MILLIONS WILL BE SAVED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegrah.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received April 12, 1 p.m. RUGBY, April 11. Mr A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, reviewed in a speech at Sheffield the results of the Naval Conference. AYhile regretting that a complete five-Power agreement had not been achieved, Mr Alexander said that it was gratifying a definite advance had been made. He recalled that in 1927 it was desired that a Naval Disarmament Conference at Geneva should comprise all five Powers gathered at the present conference. France and Italy, however, felt unable actually to participate in the conference. Moreover, after many weeks of earnest negotiation, throe Powers, the United States, Japan and Great failed to arrive at an agreement. It was useless to disguise the fact that for a time the feeling between the United States and ourselves wns not as happy as we desired. We had now arrived at a complete agreement with Japan and the’ United btates on all clasaes of eliips, and, what was most important to remember, upon very much lower .figures than the last proposals made at tho Geneva Conference in 1627. The saving involved by the ThreePower Treaty would be at least between £60,000,000 and £70,000,000. Mr Alexander thought in such circumstances that the conference must be described as a tremendous advance on the road to disarmament. Mr Alexander hoped that a continuance of the conversations between France. Italy and Great Britain would result in as happy an agreement between the European naval Powers, as had been consummated between the oceanic naval Powers. POWERS OUTSIDE AGREEMENT. It should, of course, be recognised that each of the parties to the ThreePower Agreement would have to be covered by the terms of the treaty in such a way that they might adjust their position if the construction programmes of the other Powers outside the agreement should mnke # that necessary. For example, Britain’s destroyer tonnage would be materially affected by an increase of submarine tonnage. It must also not be forgotten that the conference had achieved much in other directions. We had moved in plenary session on behalf of the British Government, and with the support of the United States, for the nbolition of submarines, and he confessed disappointment at not having secured this. Nevertheless, a complete agreement had been reached on the regulation of the use of • submarines, and that agreement, while not going so far ns some people desired, was a very distinct advantage. Another important point had been the extension of the recognised fife of different classes of ships, which would secure economy in replacement. In conclusion, Mr Alexander expressed gratification at the unanimous recognition accorded by the delegations to the ability, patience and goodwill of Mr ltariisay MacDonald, which, irad enabled much to be achieved.