BRITISH NAVAL BASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 11

BRITISH NAVAL BASES.

DEMILITARISATION PLEA.

BERMUDA AND WEST INDIES.

HINT FROM UNITED STATES.

Australian Press Association—United Service (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 12.

When Mr. Mac Donald goes to Ottawa tho Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, probably will be asked by him whether tho Canadian Government will consider a reduction of the fortifications at Halifax and tho removal of tho effective batteries.

More important than tho Halifax fortifications in the view of the American public are tho British naval bases at Bermuda and tho West Indies. Stress has been laid upon their proximity to tho Panama Canal by tho American press. It would be a notable gesture if tho islands were demilitarised completely.

ITALY AND FRANCE.

INSISTENCE UPON PARITY.

ALL AUXILIARY WARSHIPS.

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 12. According to informed circles Italy has made known to the United States her intention of insisting afc the Five Powers Naval Conference upon absolute parity with Jranco in all categories of auxiliary warships. It is understood that similar information has been transmitted to the British Government. A message from Rome says Italy has forwarded an unqualified acceptance of tho invitation to the conference.

HOOVER AND EUROPE.

NO VISIT CONTEMPLATED.

SPECULATION SET AT REST.

Australian Press Association—United Service (Received October 13, 6.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 12.

It was learned at White House to-day that the President, Mr. Hoover, does not intend to visit Europe during his term of office. This follows a report that ho intended to return the visit of Mr. MacDonald and speculation as to whether ho would attend the Five Towers Naval Conference.

Mr. Hoover may possibly visit Mexico and Cuba.

DOINGS IN NEW YOHK.

MacDONALD'S BIRTHDAY.

DEPUTATION FROM JEWS

Australian Press Association—United Service (Received October 13, 5.45 p.m.)

NEW YORK, Oct. 12.

Mr. Mac Donald celebrated his 63rd birthday to-day in a quiet fashion. Messages of congratulation poured in upon him.

The Prime Minister conversed with members of his family in London over the telephone. He received a scroll from a delegation of Protestant clergymen in appreciation of his peace efforts. In response, Mr. Mac Donald said in last analysis it would be the Church that would support their efforts for world peace more than any group. There would be plenty of opposition, but they would win through. Mr. Winston Churchill, ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer in Britain, who is in New York on a private mission, visited Mr. Mac Donald.

Yesterday Mr. Mac Donald spent one of the busiest days of his visit.- He received two deputations, one from American Jewry and the other from American Socialists. He also addressed a luncheon gathering and later a dinner gathering. The Jews were headed by a well-known banker, Mr. Felix Warburg. He said appropriate provision must be made by the British Government to see that the terms of the Palestine mandato were sympathetically carried out.

Mr. Mac Donald assured the deputation that his Government fully intended to carry out to the last detail its declared policy and its duties as guardian of the Jewish homeland project in Palestine. The Socialist deputation, headed by Mr. Norman Thomas, who was a Presidential candidate in 1928, discussed with Mr. Mac Donald the general aspects of his visit to the United.States.