QUIET WEEK-END

Southland Times, Issue 20999, 4 February 1930, Page 7

QUIET WEEK-END

NAVAL DELEGATES /BRITISH AND FRENCH THEORIES HOPE OF SOLUTIONS {United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Rugby, February 1. There will be no committee work during the week-end by the Naval Conference delegates. M. Tardieu is paying a short visit to Paris, where M. Briand preceded him yesterday. Signor Grandi and Count Wakatsuki are going to the seaside and Mr MacDonald to his official country residence, ‘The Chequers.” The delegates will take much work with them, including papers in relation to the proposal by which the British category and French global theories are co-related on this complicated important problem. There is hoped of solutions. Mr MacDonald’s optimistic statement that the partition dividing the French and British is so thin as to be almost transparent is borne out in French delegation circles. Britain is unlikely to accept the compromise proposal formally, however, until the views of other delegations at the Conference have been defined and until the whole matter has been thrashed out in committee. The so-called first committee has now been turned into a committee of all delegates and is in effect a conference sitting as a committee in private, the next such on Tuesday. The newspapers call attention to the significance of the recent announcements regarding the reduction in the British naval construction programme for 1929-1930. It is reckoned that naval tonnage which Britain would in the ordinary course have laid down in the current financial year has been reduced by nearly 30,000 tons or over 50 per cent. This is regarded as an impressive lead to the Conference, although some newspapers consider the cancellations excessive, particularly as they have been made without any effort to use such reductions as a bargain counter with other naval powers. —British Official Wireless. BRITAIN’S NAVAL CUTS JUSTIFIED BY NEWSPAPER. London, February 2. The Daily Herald, justifying the latest naval cuts, says: “The foreign delegates at the Conference fully realize the significance of the Government’s revision of the naval programme. The cuts entail a total saving of £9,000,000. They are of two kinds—first, the cancellation of the cruisers Surrey and Northumberland, the preliminary work on which is being scrapped and, secondly', a reduction of the 1929 programme before any work is begun or orders placed. This is not a one-sided disarmament. It is a measure of the Government’s confidence in the outcome of the Conference, and if the Conference succeeds the vessels, dropped will not be required. The Government, therefore, has decided not to begin work which might have to be scrapped later. The change will not entail the discharge of the Government dockyard employees.” HISTORIC GROUND DELEGATES FEEL THE THRILL. London, February 2. . “Milton wrote ‘Paradise Lost,’ but if we can achieve success with the Naval Conference we shall have written across the pages of history', ‘Paradise Regained!’ ” Thus said one of the American delegates as he stood gazing at Milton’s. cottage at Chalfont, St. Giles. None ever stands there but feels the thrill of, its historic associations. Apart from the liveliness of the spot, how much more therefore must it appeal to the members of the Naval Conference delegations and their wives and daughters, who are here on the historic mission now. Guided by Mr MacDonald, the Labour Prime Minister, who is the host at his wonderful, house, “The Chequers,” which was the gift of Lord Lee as the resting place for the Prime Ministers of Britain, the visitors went on to Jordan’s meeting house and other sacred spots. “It has been the time of my life,” said Mr H. L. Stimson. “I shall never forget that it is all sacred ground. It reminded me of how we sprang from a common stock. We are blood brothers and must ever live in peace and must strive to establish peace in the world.” DELEGATES ENTERTAINED RECEPTION BY MRS SNOWDEN. London, February 2. Mrs Snowden gave a reception to the delegates to the Naval Conference at 11 Downing Street. The Hon. J. Fenton, the Hon. T. M. and Mrs Wilford and General R-yrie attended. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE ESTIMATES CURTAILED. '(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, February 1. The Daily Telegraph follows the disclosures regarding the cancellation of warships construction with details of the Government's "Pacific intentions regarding the air service.” The Royal Air Force estimates are also made the occasion of a disarmament gesture. The estimaves for the coming year only provide a fraction of an addition to the force according to the defence standard passed in 1923. The intention is to provide only one new fighting squadron, making 13, whereas, under the 1923 programme, it should be brought to 18. Despite the fact that 34 regular and non-regular bombing squadrons were required at the end of 1930, we shall only have 24 bombing squadrons, though the programme for home air defence was regarded as the bare minimum, and only a fraction of the force can be applied as an air offensive against a foreign enemy, whereas France has 1,350 first line aircraft, Italy 1000 and Britain only 772 on sea and land.