LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.

Otago Witness, Volume 1851, Issue 3809, 15 March 1927, Page 30

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.

UNITED STATES MEMORANDUM EXPLAINED. WASHINGTON, March 8. It is understood that the British and Japanese Governments are ready to discuss w'ith the United States the question of the advisability of holding a ThreePower Conference, designed to conclude a treaty placing a further limitation on-the construction of warships. The British notification to that effect is expected before the end of the week, while-the Japanese is expected within a fortnight. There is, furthermore, some some that France and Italy may ultimately join such a conference, principally because the conditions outlined in President Coolidge’s original memorandum have been considerably explained. The memorandum intimated the possible adoption of a 5—5—3 ratio for auxiliaries and the scrapping of a number of such existing vessels. It is now made clear that the United States wishes the proposed conference to be conducted on the broadest lines. The United States had no intention of suggesting that the participating . Powers should bind themselves in advance to any formula of naval limitation or any part of such formula. The United States, furthermore, in no way desired to suggest any scrapping programme, but rather stressed the desire to reach an agreement on the limitation of further construction. It is intimated that President Coolidge seeks only to have the naval Powers foregather for the purpose of discussing a possible standard which could be applied to such limitation. It is now learned that the Italian Embassy has sent a representative to the State Department to offer an explanation which it is believed is designed to soften Italy’s first refusal of the invitation to take part in the movement. PROPOSAL FOR LIMITATION. WASHINGTON, March 8. The United States has definitely proposed to Britain and Japan a ThreePower Naval Limitation Conference, to meet at Geneva not earlier than June 1.

QUESTION OF REDUCTION. RUGBY, March 9. Although the British Government would welcome the inclusion of France and Italy, if that were still possible, in the naval conversations proposed by Washington, Britain will nevertheless participate in the tripartite meeting with the United States and Japan immediately a date convenient to those Powers can be fixed. Meanwhile, as pointed out in the British reply to President Coolidge’s invitation, there is the question of correlating the proposed conversations, with the wider issues of. disarmament, which are under the examination of the preparatory committee in Geneva. STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. LONDON, March 9. Tn the House of Commons Mr W. C. Bridgeman (First Lord of the Admiralty), replying to a question, said that it -was not intended to lay down any vessels in the new 1927 programme until the result of the conference on naval armaments was known, but work on ships at present under construction would go on at full speed as though the conference had not been called.

JAPANESE ACCEPTANCE. WASHINGTON, March 11. Communicating Japan’s unconditional acceptance of the United States proposal for a three-Power naval conference, the Ambassador, Mr Matsudaira, expressed the hope to-day to the Acting Secretary, Mr Drew, that France and Italy would eventually participate in the meeting. INVITATIONS ISSUED. WASHINGTON, March 12. The United States Government, after having received a verbal acceptance ot its proposals for a three-Power conference on auxiliary craft limitation, has formally invited Britain and Japan to attend. According to the official announcement of the State Department the conference will be held at Geneva. The invitations were extended through the British and Japanese Ambassadors, and they suggest a date as soon as possible after June 1. No official communication was sent to Italy or France, but it is hoped that these Powers will see their way clear to send observers. It is possible, however, that an invitation to participate in this informal manner will be forwarded later through Paris and Rome.