NAVAL CONFERENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 118, 15 April 1930, Page 2

NAVAL CONFERENCE

NEW YORK PAPERS’ OPINIONS. QUESTION!)]? PARITY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 14, 1.5 p.m. NEW YORK, April 13. The fact that only a limited comprehension of tho true state of affairs exists, in connection with the Naval Conference, can be seen in certain kinds of editorial opinion which, avoiding any discussion of the important elements of the situation, belabours the “parity” issue. The New York Herald-Tribune, one of the leading journals of Republican opinion in the country, takes up “military merchant ships.” To-morrow’s leader stresses the point that Britain is superior in this class of vessel, and concludes: “Parity with Britain seems clearly in sight as far as the fleets are concerned, but parity in sea power is still far away.” The New York Times, in a care-fully-prepared leader, pursues its traditional attitude as concerns AngloAmerican affaire, namely, (that anything which advances the friendship of the two countries advances world peace. Indicating that details of the agreement have not yet been announced, the Times adds: “Frankly, they do not greatly matter. Naval experts, to be sure will seize upon them with avidity.” The article concludes: “The principle of establishing and maintaining friendly relations between Britain and the United States should result in benefits not only to our two peoples, but also to others.” ITEMS OUTSTANDING. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 14, 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, April 13. A communique issued yesterday evening states: “The First Committee met at Saint James’s Palace in the afternoon to consider certain items of business still outstanding. The,fourth report of the committee of experts dealing with the rules for the disposal of vessels of war was unanimously .adopted. The three . Powers concerned agreed to a definition of the characteristics of vessels of the destroyer class. The rules for replacement, drawn i p by a special committee of experts, were also considered' and, with certain, amendments, unanimously adopted. The report of the special committee appointed to define tho term aircraft

carrier was unanimously adopted, subject to certain important modifications. FRENCH SECURITY (British Official Wireless.) Received April 14, 1.5 p.m LONDON, April 13. In connection with the Naval Conference the Daily Telegraph expresses satisfaction that the notion of purchasing a reduction of Franco’s programme with new British commitments in the Mediterranean is finally disposed or, and hopes that the memory of its collapse .will tell against a revival ot it in another form m future discussions at Geneva. , , The Daily Chronicle declares that the three-Power agreement is above all a personal triumph for Mr Ramsay MacDonald. “It is not only better than notliiing. but alto is a very genuine benefit and far-reaching achievement. It marks a definite point in the process of disentangling ourselves from Europe, and puts the relations of the three leading naval Powers on a sensible and enduring basis.”