BRIGHT OUTLOOK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 7

BRIGHT OUTLOOK

DISARMAMENT CONGRESS AMERICANS OPTIMISTIC (Australian ond N.Z. Cablo Association.) NEW YORK, June 21. The New York Times' Washington correspondent states that with further opportunity to study the proposals submitted at Geneva it may be said that on the whole Washington opinion i's fairly optimistic relative to the prospects of practical accomplishments by the Disarmament Conference. There are, however, diverse Views with some comment, indicating a nelief that the fundamental proposals of the participants cannot bo reconciled. Then there is the view that Britain and Japan are up to some skullduggery with intent to make the United States a victim, but it is significant perhaps that men who have had experience of international conferences are inclined to see a bright outlook. Senator Borah confined his comment to denying reports that if the conference failed the United States would .start an intensive comprehensive naval build.ng programme. He said • "We have some things we must take care of, such as the flood situation and oilier domestic matters which will be more important than putting a large amount of money into naval armament."

; Mr. Britten, of the House Naval ■ Affairs Committee, predicted that the conference would end in a fizzle, and the j United States would nuild 10,000-ton j cruisers, but the general view in Wash- ! ington is rather in accord with that of Senator Borah. THE FINAL BASIS UNITED STATES PROPOSALS CONCESSIONS NOT LIKELY (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 23, 11 a.m.j. . WASHINGTON, June 22.. The State Department makes it clear regarding the United States Geneva proposals that they are the result *of the best thought of the administration, and barriiiir the usual detail compromises , they should be maintained as the basis of the final agreement. Officials cling to the hope that an , agreement will be reached and that the | United States proposal for an extension of the nve-five-Uu'ee ratio to auxiliary craft will be accepted. The' proposals, ft is contended, represent the country's minimum requirements, and it is believed that the British and Japanese : proposals will not he pressed to a point ! that would endanger the conference.- { QUESTION OP SINGAPORE NOT LIKELY TO BE RAISED THE DOMINIONS' ATTITUDE (N.Z., and A.P.A., and Sun.) GENEVA, June 22. ! The Australian Press Association is authorised to state that Japan does not ."intend to raise the. question of fortifications in general and Singapore in paiti'cular. A Japanese expert, interviewed, said : "It was understood from the beginning that the cjuestion of fortifications was outside the scope of the conference. True, it is intimately connected with naval defence, and may be referred to ih the course of conversations, but. we certainly at present have no intention of raising the question. The Australian Press Association also gathers that the American view is that while they admit at present there is a • wide divergence between the American, i British and Japanese schemes, they insist there is no reason for pessimism about the possibility of an agreement because there is such a wide range in the American scheme, that it affords a basis of discussion.

Earl Jellicoe, after ho had voiced the views of naval experts, stressed the point that the conference would not discuss fortifications. This, unless something unforeseen occurs, rules out the Singapore base and Hawaii. Earl Jellicoe, continuing, said he was very proud to be among the representatives of New Zealand. "It is an indication, so far as that Dominion was concerned," he said, "of the great interest it takes in Imperial defence, and of the hon«v t hey have done pie in asking me to be a representative. Australia obviously is also deeply interested in the successful progress and .outcome of the conference, both being vitally concerned in the preservation and protection of trade- routes, because tue great proportion of their products are exported, and they deepnd largely on manufactured imports for their comfort."