TALKS WORTH WHILE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 7

TALKS WORTH WHILE

ON NAVAL PROBLEMS. ANGLO-AMERICAN DECISION. POSITION WITH JAPAN. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . (British Official Wireless.) Received November 24, 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. The Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MacDonald), the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon) and two of the British delegates to the naval conversations now proceeding in London met the American delegates, Messrs Norman Davis and Ray Atherton, when the Americans were informed of what passed in the recent talks with the Japanese delegates. This was followed by a general review of the position up to date, and after the discussion both delegations decided it was worth while continuing the conversations. . , It will be recalled that at an early stage of the conversations the Japanese naval proposals were presented and in toto they proved totally unacceptable both to the British and Americans. As no indication of a modification of these proposals was forthcoming from the Japanese side, certain suggestions were put forward by the British during the seriatim examination of the proposals. The Japanese, after a consultation with Tokio, rejected the suggestions, but showed a de-sire to continue the talks, which, however, have so far resulted in no advance.

No formal meetings will be held during the week-end, but social engagements will bring some of the delegates, including Sir John Simon and Mr Davis, into contact. Further AngloJapanese conversations will take place, probably on Wednesday.

SIR JOHN SIMON’S ADDRESS

COMMENT ON SITUATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Nov. 22. In his statement on the naval conversations now proceeding in London during the debate on the Address to the Throne Sir John Simon (Foreign Secretary), said that since the middle of October they had, with the representatives of the United States and Japan, had preliminary conversations with a view to preparing the way for the Naval Conference which was due to take place under the terms of the Washington Treaty in 1935. This was not a Naval Conference, hut discussions preliminary to it. The Washington Treaty provided that there should be a meeting between the parties in 1935, whether the Washington Treaty was terminated by notice or not.

The talks had been bilateral, and were in continuation of the conversations which took place last summer with the representatives of the United States, France and Italy. In the event of the denunciation of the Washington Naval Treaty by one of its parties before the end of the present year, the Naval Conference must still take place under the terms of that treaty 'during the next year. There was a similar provision in the London Naval Treaty for a conference in 1935, for the purpose of negotiating a fresh treaty. - There was a distinction, said Sir John, between a common upper limit as a matter of right and the actual size of ship that was built under the limit. It was not possible for him to give details of the Japanese proposals nor to make a declaration as to matters still under discussion and negotiation. “There have been many Press reports at different times that two Powers have been putting their heads together to arrange confidentially and vis-a-vis a third Power, this, that, or the other, to make arrangement without consultation with the others, whether it be in Government conversations or outside them. Such reports are pure fabrication:” The Japanese delegation to the naval talks has issued a statement that rumours that Japan is willing to recognise a larger navy for Britain than for Japan or the United States, or proposes a ratio of five-four-four, are without foundation.

Japan is opposed to a ratio system in whatever form and favours an agreement based on the principle of a common upper limit. ATTITUDE OP JAPAN. ADMIRAL SAITO’S ARTICLE. WASHINGTON, Nov. 22. An article, which was given wide publicity, appearing under the name of Viscount Admiral Saito, assailing jingoists in his own and other countries, was partially repudiated by the Japanese Embassy. In a formal statement the Embassy explained that Viscount Saito gave Mr Herbert Hilsclier an interview last August, but had never seen or approved the article as it appeared in the Christian Science Monitor. It was denied that the Admiral said there was a division of opinion in Japan on naval matters, or that jingoists were scheming to force Japan to build the world’s greatest navy. The Embassy took the occasion to declare that the Japanese nation is united cm the naval question. A Boston message states that the Christian Science Monitor on Thursday night made public the text of a letter allegedly signed by Viscount Saito, in which the Japanese statesman was credited with approving the recent article in the paper.