NAVAL PARITY

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1929, Page 5

NAVAL PARITY

ANGLO-AMERICAN VIEWS MINOR DISCREPANCY ONLY. “ONE THING AT A TIME.”

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, November 17. Mr C. G. Dawes, United States Amibassador’ in London, who returned j from a brief visit to America yesteri day, was the guest at a dinner last I night of the Institute of Journalists. *The Foreign Secretary, Mr Arthur I Henderson, was present. Mr Dawes referred to the results of the Anglo-American naval conversations, which were begun by him in an interview with the Prime Minister immediately after Mr Dawes reached England to take up his appointment; some months ago. He also spoke of the prospects of the Five-Power Conference to be hold in January, That conference, he said, was called under the aegis of the Kellogg Pact, and in its spirit the great j naval Powers would meet.

The negotiations between Great Britain and the United States had been a preliminary, and their result was subject to such modifications as might result from the necessities of

other Powers. In these preliminary negotiations, as in any more general disarmament negotiations, the motto ‘‘One thing at a titne" should be kept in mind, Discussion of other ultimate objectives such ns freedom of the seas and more comprehensive disarmament should never be allowed to obstruct any agreement which may be a step in their direction.

Public opinion eventually would control all, and for the proper formation of its final judgment the public should first have a clear statement and understanding of the case.

During the last four months, in, the conversations between Great Britain and the United States, most of the time had been devoted to technical naval discussion, in a preliminary way of the following points.—-First, of the naval requirement of each of the two nations essential to their respective security. Second, of whether reduction might bo secured consistent with the meeting of these, requirements. Third, of what would constitute equality of strength between the two navies, particularly in the cruiser category.

A substantial agreement upon what constitutes equality in cruiser, category | involved the settlement of a series of technical questions, upon each of ' which at first conflicting opinions were submitted in each instance. This involved the necessity of further research and reconsideration by both sides before a final agreement of technical naval opinions between the American Naval Board and the British Admiralty was reached. Conflicting opinions remained on Only the minor njatter involving 10,000 cruiser tons out of the aggregate tonnage of 2,400,000. Had this series of technical questions been discussed publicly by a general body composed both of naval technicians and statesmen of the two countries, instead of being dealt with one at a time and in the order determined by the principals, the President and the Prime Minister, advised separately by the naval staffs, in his judgment no agreement would have been reached. The Ambassador described the objective of the naval conversations as the abolition of competitive construction and the reduction of fleets to a defensive minimum. Mr Ramsay MacDonald transmitted a message stating: “None more powerful to strengthen, or weaken the hands of the peacemaker than the Press.”

FRANCE ACCEPTS. CONFERENCE INVITATION. (Received 1.17 p.m.) LONDON, November 17. France has accepted the invitation to attend the Naval Conference here on January 21.