THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20958, 22 February 1930, Page 12

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

W hile the cabled, messages relating to the sessions of the Naval Conference in London have been couched, for the most part, in hopeful language they have not sought to disguise the 1 fact that the delegates of the five great naval Powers have been experiencing considerable difficulty in miiHpg any definite headway with their task of reaching agreement upon a new formula for the limitation and reduction of naval strength. The issue has been confused upon more than one occasion by the issue of memoranda from one or other of- the Powers concerned, but it may he hoped that the “ naval holiday ” which has been necessitated through the defeat of the Government headed by M. Tardieu will permit the harassed delegates to. achieve, in private conversations, some measure of understanding. Although the Powers which are represented at the .Conference have .doubtless approached the problem of naval disarmament in good faith, and with a genuine desire that some form of mutual undertaking to limit the building of ships of war may be devised, there is noticeable that. lack of willingness to lay aside distrust and suspicion of one’s neighbours that has so long been a characteristic of Continental diplomacy. Prance is providing the greatest pai’t of the difficulties that have now to be faced by the assembled delegates, her contention apparently being that Italy cannot be allowed to possess a navy as powerful as that of the Republic, and 'that adequate of French security from the menace of •invasion can be assured only by the possession by France of a very efficient nayy. It is reported that Prance is ; strengthening her Italian frontier as a precaution against attack by land, and it is well known that since the war her German frontier has been strongly fortified. It is difficult to reconcile all this with the fact that France is a signatory of the Kellogg Peace Pact, to which Germany and Italy also are parties. That the Pact is a gesture of good intentions rather than an effective instrument for the prevention' of war is a conclusion that has bocu prompted by a good deal that has occurred since it was executed. The interpretation by the French /of the obligations they have accepted under the Pact seem to be summed up in the declaration in a diplomatic Note recently issued by their Government to the other Powers that are represented at the Nava} Conference that the Pact is based on the force of public opinion, which is great, but that “ it cannot be looked upon .as sufficient in its present state to guarantee the security of nations.” It is to be regretted that French suspicions l.of neighbouring States cannot be dissipated to some extent, in view of the importance which the ; Kellogg Pact unquestionably might ' be made to assume in international affairs were natural jealousies disregarded, 'and of the impetus towards a stable peace that might he, imparted by . the . Naval'.

Conference if each of the five nations taking part Jn it could see its way to. make generous concessions for the common good.