NAVAL DISARMAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 11

NAVAL DISARMAMENT

THE UNCLASSIFIED SHIPS. DISCUSSION BY EXPERTS. FINAL REPORT AWAITED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 25., # In order to clear the air in connection with the statements made in various quarters, the British* spokesman outlined the conference situation to date: “The question of a three-Power pact has never been officially considered as a way out of the supposed difficulties. It must he remembered that the three-Power suggestion does not help the idea of the main work of the Geneva Conference. At present the majority of the delegates are so confident of a five-Power agreement that anything else has been little more than the subject of casual conversations. Regarding a political Mediterranean pact no delegation has made specific , proposals bn this matter. A Mediter- ■ ranean ■ Locarno should be left to diplomatic channels outside the conference’s work.” The experts are practically agreed on ftll points, arid the final report on unclassified ships should shortly be presented. . ■ 1 The most important announcement was that Mr MacDonald, pn the assumption that the' French delegated are arriv- . ing to-morrow, is arranging for a consultation between the heads of all delegations for the morning of February 27. MR ALEXANDER OPTIMISTIC. TRIBUTE TO THE JAPANESE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 25. Proposing the toast of the Japanese delegation at a dinner given in their honour by.the Japanese Society, Mr A.‘ V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty) spoke of the naval associations of ; Britain and Japan. He recalled that from the days of 50 or more years ago, .when BrP { ’ -officers assisted in the. training of the Japanese navy, and right through the period of establishment of Japan, as a leading naval Power, the relations betwen the~navies of the two nations had been of the most cordial. character. British admiration and respect for the courage and efficiency of the Japanese navy had been greatly enhanced by the support and co-opera-tion received from it during the Great War. It was not surprising, therefore, to find the Japanese delegation labouring sincerely for the success of the present Naval Conference. “We, may not yet have completely adjusted our respective viewpoints on all questions of details,” said Mr Alexander, “but it is good to be able to. record that we have already Obtained a large measure of agreement, and I'can express the confident hope that the matters remaining for discussion between us will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.” ' Mr Alexander said he was convinced that all the statesmen who would gather round council board once more this week would make continuous and sincere efforts to arrive at (the end desired, and this would be a lead to further disarmament, on land and in the air. THE OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN. EFFECT OF FRENCH CRISIS. .• LONDON, February 25. (Received Feb. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The whole conference outlook has been changed to-night by events in the French Chamber and the defeat of M. Chautemps has plunged the' gathering here into 1 uncertainty. Whatever arrangements are made to form a new Ministry in Paris it will entail a fur- , ther considerable, delay. ' The heads of the British, American, Italian and Japanese delegations will meet on Thursday and will have decided on a course of action. By then the situation nr Pans will be clearer, though it is unlikely that the new Cabinet can assume office for several days. British official circles to-night were of the opinion that the delay might be reduced. by France appointing an unofficial observer to. attend' the meetings. In this way a number at least of controversial problems could be tackled and tentative decisions reached, which will be presented for acceptance when the new French delegation arrives. The Americans consider that France must be given another chance to form a etable Government. In, view of the importance of the main conference questions they feel that the value of a fivePower agreement far transcends the awkwardness of further delay, HEADS OF DELEGATIONS. EARLIER MEETING ARRANGED. LONDON,. February 26. Feb. 27, at 0.30 a.m.) it. t- W j S a J ran S e d late last night that the heads of the naval delegations should meet to-day instead of on Thursday.