WORLD SECURITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 9

WORLD SECURITY

THE LONDON CONFERENCE PREVENTING A NAVAL RACE PERMANENT TREATY POSSIBLE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, December 9. Mr Baldwin, addressing the Naval Conference, said: "As the result of preliminary talks arrangements were made to embody rules regulating submarine warfare, enabling Franco-Italian acceptance. I hope this will be the signal for acceptance by the maritime Powers of the whole world, resulting in averting unrestricted submarine warfare in future." Mr* Baldwin pointed out that during the 14 years since the Washington Conference there had been none of the rivalry in construction which previously marred international relations. "I am convinced," he said, "that the countries here represented are prepared to yield a little of their maximum demands for the general good and to evolve an agreement reducing the total tonnage of naval armaments, adding to the general sense of world security." • Mr Norman Davis (America) quoted a

letter •which President Roosevelt wrote to him last year suggesting a total tonnage reduction of 20 per cent, below the existing treaty tonnage. He added: "Britain, America, and Japan, having nothing to fear from each other, cannot escape,

their responsibility. 1 4 earnestly hope that France and Italy will participate > in the efforts for limitation. The United States could not accept the responsibility for inaugurating a naval race. Our task is to make it unnecessary." Mr Davis 1 declared that if it was found impossible

. to agree to a renewal of the existing treaties the Powers should at least prevent a naval race, and pave the way ."; to a more. permanent and more comprehensive; treaty. Their' objective must be to . ensure that an essential balance of fleets, which had proved such a guardian tee of peace, should: be maintained by agreement,, instead of expensive : and dangerous competition in which the ■- United States would not take the initiative. Her present building was_ essentially replacement, consistent with the desire for reduction. Mr Davis proposed the appointment of Sir Samuel Hoare as president of the conference, and Viscount Monsell vice-president. . Mr Vincent Massey assured the conference of Canada's desire for limitation. M. Corbin, promising France's co--operation; declared that he was bound = : tb take- account of France's imperial re- "- sporisibilities.' " Quantitative limitation cannot be. studied without raising the general problem of armaments in all categories. France-remains favourable to qualitative limitation, even large reductions in maximum tonnage and gun calibre." M. Corbin welcomed Mr Baldwin's declaration regarding submarines, . on which France earnestly desired agreement. Signor Grandi said his Government was bound., to take account of the League's attitude towards Italy. "Nevertheless Italy had consistently promoted and supported disarmament and was animated by the same spirit pl- - present. Professor Nagano, on behalf of Japan, said: "Any new treaty should be based on a common limit of naval armaments for the Great Powers, fixed as low as possible. Simultaneously, the offensive forces must be drastically reduced and ample defensive forces provided. Japan is prepared to co-operate on these lines." The conference resolved itself into committee and adjourned till to- , morrow. i '.-.''.. ■ Viscount'Monsell requested each dele- . gatibn to reduce its representation to . the minimum in order to expedite the , proceedings. . DEMAND BY JAPAN "PARITY MUST COME FIRST" LONDON, December 9. Professor Nagano said: "Further, Aye demand the total abolition or a drastic reduction of all offensive ships, such as aircraft carriers, capital ships and 'A' .' class cruisers. Regarding defensive ships, snsh as ' B ' class cruisers, destroyers and submarines, we maintain that each nation should be left free to provide defence by retaining the ships best calculated to meet its own requirements, in which connection we can never agree to the suppression of submarines." Questioned regarding Japan's attitude to the American suggestion of an allround limitation as high as 20 per cent, oh the existing strength, Professor Nagano indicated that Japanese parity must come first. The Australian Associated Press was : informed that the proposal for a 20 per cent, reduction does not conflict in principle with the British policy, but no further comment can be made before the figures are .studied. To-day's plenary session was largely for window-dressing purposes. It is understood that, with few exceptions, every delegation was apprised beforehand of what the others were going to say It may be somo time before any delegation produces detailed figures of its "proposals, but the Japanese leave no doubt about their attitude, which contains the condition of a grant of equality. The Japanese contention clashes with those of Britain and America, not only in the numbers, but in the type of.ships. It conflicts with British views regarding the importance of cruisers, with the Americans regard- " ing capital ships, and with both regard- ' ing submarines. QUESTION OF SUBMARINES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, December 9. The first plenary session of the FivePower Naval Conference was opened tins morning. In view of the Japanese decision to terminate the Washington Treaty, the task before the conference

will be that of devising some new method of controlling naval armaments to replace that laid down in the expiring treaties, which were based on the acceptance of a fixed ratio strength between Britain, the United States and Japan, commonly known as the 55 —3 ratio. Mr Baldwin said: "If it proves impossible to obtain an agreement for the abolition of submarines, it is of vital importance to reach an agreement which will prevent their misuse." When the officers of the conference had been elected the Prime Minister retired, and Viscount Monsell presided. The remainder of the morning session was devoted to speeches by delegates. Mr Davis referred to the Washington Conference of 1922 as a milestone in civilisation. It was supplemented by the London Treaty of 1930, which recognised that furtlier limitation and reduction should be sought. The United States adhered to that goal. Only if all else failed should an agreement be sought providing for the maintenance and extension of the existing treaties over as long a period as possible. He was convinced that, if the basic principles of continued naval limitation with progressive reduction could be adhered to this year and next, the technicalities of ship tonnage, of ship classes or gun calibres and of other weapons could be solved by a friendly conference. Signor/Grandi recalled that Italy had not used to the full her armaments quota under the Washington Treaty. He 6aid all present at the conference were grateful to the British Government for its initiative and its painstaking and careful preparatory work. Professor Nagano paid a similar compliment to Britain.. He said Japan desired to co-operate in a new comprehensive agreement on disarmament at once most fair and rational.