NAVAL LIMITATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20039, 4 March 1927, Page 9

NAVAL LIMITATION

THE AMERICAN PROPOSAL. FRENCH OPINION CHANGING. (Pres? Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) WASHINGTON. March 2. (Received March 3, at 11 p.m.) Unofficial intimations from Paris that Franco may yet modify her rejection of President Coolidge’s naval limitation proposals, which have been received here, are now regarded as a hopeful sign. The intimations are based on 'the past fortnight’s successful efforts at Geneva to reconcile the French and American concepts of the disarmament problem. It is understood that the French misapprehension that America desired to establish a construction ratio for the naval Powers similarly to the Washington capita] ships’ arrangement has been dissipated, and the French approve of President Coolidge’s basic belief that competitive building in future can be av^.ded. It is understood that the French may endeavour to include Mr Coolidge’s proposals at the coming Geneva preparatory conference as a possible preliminary to a separate naval conference.—A. and N.Z. Cable.