WITHOUT RESULT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17956, 7 December 1932, Page 7

WITHOUT RESULT

GENEVA CONVERSATIONS DISARMAMENT PROBLEM GENEVA, ec. 6. Mr MacDonald’s dinner party was without result; indeed, cynics suggest that the festival was in the nature of a funeral wake, with the Disarmament Conference as the corpse. Latest advices show that the all-day efforts of Mr. MacDonald,. Sir John Simon, and Mr. Norman Davis to induce M. Harriot to meet Germany’s claim to equality were of little avail, but France and Italy are now inclined to favor Mr. Davis’ idea that the existing results be embodied in a protocol. Baron von Neurath had an hour’s interview with Mr. MacDonald directly lie arrived, which was most cordial, but except ut the dinner party M. Herriot and Baron von Neurath seem to be avoiding each other. M. Herriot is leaving Geneva on Tuesday evening, but offers to return on Saturday if needed.

Japan’s naval disarmament plan, which was submitted to the four Powers confidentially, suggests that naval reductions must respect the geographical situation of each country, and not destroy the feeling of security of any country. Hence Powers with superior naval forces must reduce proportionately more than Powers with smaller navies. The maximum tonnage of cruisers should be 8000, but Bin. guns should be retained on cruisers. While Britain, United States, France, Italy and Japan shall fix their respecti'-e maximum global tonnages of small cruisers, destroyers and other small units, the actual amount of tonnage each navy shall possess will be determined bv a redonal agreement. For this purpose the nations of the world will be divided into such units as the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, European waters, South American waters, etc.