NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 11

NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

ANGLO-FRENCH SCHEME. OPPOSITION BY ITALY. ACCUSATION OF A COMBINE. CONTROL IN MEDITERRANEAN. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received October 8, 5.5 p.m.) ■ " LONDON. Oct 7 The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says Italy's reply to the request from Britain and France for an expression of opinion on the naval compromise reached between them Jins been received by tho French Government. It is expected to create a storm. The Italian Note virtually accuses Britain and France of combining to control the Mediterranean. The Paris correspondent of tho Morning Post says the reply from Italy makes it. clear that the Anglo-French proposals are not acceptable to that country. An important statement throwing light on the naval compromise between France and Britain was made by Lord Cushenduri, Acting-Foreign Secretary, at Geneva early last month. " There lias been a great deal of speculation and misunderstanding," ho said, " regarding so-called Anglo-French agreement regarding naval disarmament. The difficulty has arisen bceauso of tho different meanings of the word agreement. This is not an agreement at all in tho ordinary senso of tho word as applied to international negotiations resulting in an accord. It is not a treaty and it is not final. The matter can best bo explained by referring to tho way in which it has arisen. " Wo must start from the setting up of (he Preparatory Commission on Disarmament, tho purpose of which was to lay down agreed principles to bo followed by all nations in reducing armaments by land or sea. This Commission began work in March, 1927, and. as a basis for discussion, the British and French Governments each submitted a draft convention. The Commission directed its endeavours to reconciling tho two drafts- and producing a single agreed text. There were several points on which there was disagreement, but (he most important from the British point of view was the divergence of opinion between ourselves and the French regarding (ho principles on which naval disarmament might bo approached. This disagreement between (lie French and ourselves for a considerable lime prevented anything-being done. The other nations ranged themselves, some on our side and some on tho French. In principle the United States Government supported our view rather than that of tho French. " Various meetings of tho Preparatory Commission sought a compromise, which might produco agreement. At the meeting last March, tho French representative and I announced that certain conversations had been proceeding both here and in Paris, sometimes between Ministers and sometimes between experts, to see whether these divergencies could be surmounted. This so-called agreement is nothing more nor less than a solution of that particular difficulty. But obviously this can only bo a first step. All the other nations concerned at Geneva must come into (lie agreement, otherwiso the proposed convention falls (o the ground. Wo intimated (o tho American, Italian and Japanese Governments that these conversations had resulted in an agreement between the French and ourselves, and invited their observations upon the text so agreed. If (hey are also all in agreement, then we. may hope, that (ho next meeting of the Preparatory Commission will accept the draft. If not wo shall have to approach the matter again and see if we can reach accord on some other lines. " The agreement is simply for the purpose of securing a single text as between two draft conventions. There arc only four or fivo short, but very technical clauses, and the natural tiling is to delay publication until the Governments most concerned have had an opportunity of considering their replies. We want their observations, and I am very hopeful that when they are considered by the other Governments, possibly with some amendments, we may succeed in arriving at an agreed text. Speculations as to secret clauses and so forth havo no foundation whatever. I see if suggested, for instance, that we were going to arrange for pooling our Navy with the French. There is absolutely nothing in any such suggestion, nor is (hero anything at all in the shape of an agreed policy between ourselves and the French. It is not a question of policy," Lord Cushendun added. " That has never been, discussed. There arc no secret clauses nor any arrangement as (o an alliance or cooperation of navies. All that, is absolutely beside the mark; nothing of the sort has ever been suggested."