WORK OF THE CONFERENCE,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18446, 6 January 1922, Page 5

WORK OF THE CONFERENCE,

AN OPTIMISTIC REVIEW. (From the Special Representative op the Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, January 4. (Received Jan. 5, at 8.30 p.m.) At a meeting of the Naval Committee Sir Auckland Geddes, reviewing the work of the conference, said it was the most successful interriktional conference ever held. He referred to Japan’s extraordinary goodwill in agreeing to the capital ship ratio, and he enumerated all the agreements actually arrived at. In regard to naval matters. Sir Auckland Geddes indicated that among the technical details of the treaty there would be provision to prevent the nations \ improving and transforming . their present ships under the guise of reconditioning. Ho thought the last word in connection with submarines had not been said at this conference. Decidedly the discussion upon submarines had drawn attention to increasing body of world opinion. The substitution of the Four-Power Pact for the AngloJapanese Alliance was of immense importance, removing a source of misunderstanding between the Djiited States and Great Britain. China had got a wonderful lot from the conference. He thought the end of the Shantung .problem was fairly in sight. China was through a difficult transition period from monarchy to democracy. The Powers had formed a nursing ring to prevent her being damaged during that embryonic period. She had had a fair first step towards tariff autonomy and other aids in her march towards becoming a nation. Eight Powers had pledged themselves to help China so long as she helped herself. There finally had been an enormous improvement in the international atmosphere.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CONCESSION TO PRANCE. (From the Special Representative op the Australian Press Association.) January 5. Jan. 5, at 11.5 p.m.) It js understood that France has been conceded the right, under the naval agreement, to build three ships before the termination of the naval holiday on condition that they are not put into commission till the end of the period. While accepting in principle the Root resolution with Mr Balfour’s amendment, France has asked: (1) What is a merchantman’ (2) Docs it mean that. submarines cannot be deed for the purpose of' blockade? The French point out that a blockade is a legitimate means of warfare. The blockading nation has the right to sink any ship attempting to pass a line. As France is placing the greatest reliance on submarines, it is notj fair that she should be restricted to this use,—A. and N.Z. Gable.