NAVAL CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

TURN IN TIDE

OUTLOOK EXTREMELY PROMIS

ITALY A STUMBLING BLOCK

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Recoived 31st Januarv, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, 30th January.

To-day's proceedings! ; in connection with the Naval Conference leave an atmosphere of hope that Mr MacDonald's optimism will be realised. Speaking to pressmen after the plenary session Mr MacDonald indicated that they were approaching a settlement of a measure which had hitherto defied solution. This was regarued as expressing the feeling existing throughout the conference that a big turn in the tide was imminent. England, France, and America are now much closer together than ever before, while Japan has always been anxious for the closest co-operation. Thus many now consider there is not only an extremely promising outlook, but that the general question of naval disarmament has reached a stage well beyond anything hitherto. Italy appears to be to some extent the impeding agent, with a strong desire to settle the parity problem with France, and the impression is fast growing that, it is already a four to oik; conference, in face of which Italy can hardly hold up progress. The admission of the press to the plenary sessions must not be construed into a belief that they are in the full confidence of the conference. Undoubtedly had the plenary session been private there would nave been much more open speaking, and delegates do not disguise the fact that straight speaking, which alone removes''misunderstandings, will be strictly" confined to private meetings.