NAVAL LIMITATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22711, 25 October 1935, Page 9

NAVAL LIMITATION

A CONFERENCE POSSIBLE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 23. Although no invitations have yet been issued, it is probable that a naval conference will be held in London before the end of the year to attempt to reach a new naval limitation agreement to take the place of the Washington and London Treaties, which expire at the end of next year. In anticipation of such a conference, which is provided for under these treaties, the Powers which are parties to them have been consulted during recent months and considerable progress has been made. In well-informed quarters the hope is expressed that if the difficulties in the way of agreement upon quantitative limitation should prove insuperable, useful work may be done by the new conference agreeing upon qualitative limitations. The Powers participating in the conference would be Britain, the United States, Japan, France and Italy. AMERICA’S ATTITUDE WASHINGTON, October 23. (Received Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.) The Navy Department revealed today that it expects an invitation from the British Government to attend a naval conference in London early in December, and that the Government' is prepared to accept. Admiral Standley, Chief of Naval Operations, has been tentatively selected leader of the technical delegation, while if a diplomatic representative is. necessary Mr Norman Davis or Mr R. W. Bingham will probably serve. In a press interview Mr C. A. Swanson (Secretary of the Navy) indicated that the department felt that the conference would largely consist of a discussion on routine naval matters. He declared that he still favours the 5 —5 3 ratio as agreed at the Washington Conference.