FATE IN BALANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1927, Page 13

FATE IN BALANCE

DISARMAMENT CRISIS KNOTTY CRUISER PROBLEM SUMMONING OF EXECUTIVE AMERICA STILL HOPEFUL By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 8, 7.25 p.m. London, July 7. The Geneva correspondent of the Exchange Agenciee says that the executive will be summoned on Friday to decide the future of the conference. ' '■' The British United Press Geneva cor< respondent says that Japan flatly refused to acquiesce with America's willingness to meet Britain’s ideas by increasing cruiser tonnage to 400,000 tons. This precipitated the meeting of the executive. The Times’ Geneva correspondent says: “The fate of the Naval Conference remains in suspense. The British and American proposals continue to be irreconcilable. Britain, remembering her bitter experiences in war-time with enemy raiders, particularly the Emden, cannot abandon her demand for more ships of smaller tonnage, because the American idea of fewer ships of larger tonnage would never meet the Empire's requirements. Britain has little use for a cruiser fleet of 10,000 tons apiece, and does not desire to be forced into building them. “There is talk in League circles that the difficulty might be solved by comprehensive Anglo-American circles, but ' the Americans are of opinion that the scheme might be feasible if it could bo assumed that each country would assist the other if attacked. CRUISER SIZE THE CRUX. THE ATTITUDE OF AMERICA. Received July 8, 5.5 p.m. New York, July 7. The New York Times’ Washington?: O correspondent states that, should tjie Geneva Conference, contrary to the expectation of the United States Government,; be unable to agree to cruiser limitation, it is understood to be the intention of America to refuse to make) J any agreement relative to submarines, and destroyers, it being felt (hat the three, classes of vessels cannot be treated separately. • Sir Esme Howard (British Ambassador), who returned from the country for a Conference with Mr. F. B. Kellogg (Secretary of State), trill remain several days in order to be in direct;, touch 'With the United States Govern-, ment And report its views to the For- „ eign Office. Sir Esme Howard pointed out that the United States and Britain respectively are best able to judge of their own requirements, and criticism should not be directed by people of one country against the other on this score. If no agreement is reached at the Geneva Conference, no ill-will should result. The Japanese Ambassador also called on Mr., Kellogg.