NAVAL LIMITATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 117, 14 April 1930, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATION

EFFECT OF AGREEMENT. SUSPICION REMOVED. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 14, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, April 12. The results of the Naval Conference are the subject of leading articles in the newspapers this morning. The Times states: “The Powers concerned have come to an agreement as to the number and type of warships of all kinds they will build during the next five years, and the programmes upon which they have agreed are very mucl\ smaller than anything contemplated at Washington, or even at Geneva, three years ago. “They have thus, as between themselves, extended and completed the ■work of the Washington Conference and abolished competition naval armaments. “The saving effected, however, important as it. is for every nation in the economic circumstances of the present day, is not the main benefit which may be expected to result from the agreement. “With the elimination of competitive naval construction, there will also disappear a prolific source of mutual suspicion, misunderstanding and friction, and the way will be paved for a further progressive reduction at future conferences.” AMERICAN ATTITUDE. Received April 14, 10.5 a.m. NEW YORK, April 12. Anything that may be said as yet concerning Senatorial reaction to the impending three-Power naval treaty would be purely conjectural. Senator Borah, who would not represent the United States as a delegate, so that he might maintain his freedom of action, has not yet spoken. However, it is understood that the President will make every effort to keep the treaty out of politics until early in 1931. The present session of Congress will probably end in June, and' the next session will not convene until December. There is a possibility that the political complexion of Congress may change radically. It has done so in the past at middle-term elections. What the fate of the treaty would be if the Republican majority in the Senate were seriously reduced it is impossible to predict. NO GREAT EXCITEMENT. Received April 13, 10.5 a.m. NEW YORK, April 12. It cannot be said that the three-Power arrangement has .aroused much interest, chiefly because of the iugrained insularity and provincialism ol the great bulk of the American people. Mr Hoover’s explanatory statement, moreover, caused hardly a ripple of excitement. Tho international meaning of ■- the London conference's work does not seem to be generally understood. Although there is an attempt 'to outline the important considerations and sacrifices behind the British decisions ,to permit of -American parity, there is even less understanding of the necessity for a five-Power agreement before Britain can feel secure in making reductions. A few American observers, however, do point out that the British are “world-minded,” and must regard European troubles with clear eyes, and as a result must express some dissatisfaction witli the announced agreement. These observers do. try to make clear that without a definite assurance of limitation of the French and Italian forces the British must always seo at jeast a strategic threat to their vital lines of communication in tho Mediterranean. BRITAIN’S CRUISER STRENGTH. LONDON, April 12. Tho Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent understands that the two cruisers which were cancelled will probably now be built in order to raise our cruLsey strength to 50. At present we have 52 cruisers,-but four are obsolete. RELIEF IN FRANCE. PARIS, April 12. Tho decision to end the Naval Conference is greeted with relief by the French newspapers, which blame Italy for the failure to conclude a fivePower pact, but emphasise that France has emerged with her naval programme intact and her freedom of action unimpaired, especially in submarines.