PLEA FOR NAVAL TREATY

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 9

PLEA FOR NAVAL TREATY

WARNING BY PRESIDENT ALTERNATIVE TO REDUCTION VOTE OF SENATE AWAITED . By Telegraph—Pre»» Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. Washington, July 7. Obtaining a quorum for the special London Naval Treaty session of the Senate, President Hoover .delivered a message stating: “I should present my views upon the treaty. This is necessary owing to the misinformation and misrepresentation which has been widely spread by those who are opposed to all reductions in naval strength. The only alternative to this treaty is competitive building with all its flow of hate, suspicion, ill-will and ultimate disaster. History supports those who hold to the agreement as the path of peace.' “It is folly to think that because we are (he richest nation we can outbuild others. The very entry of the United Slates of such a course would invite the consolidation of the rest of the world against us. To those who seek earnestly and properly for a reduction of warships I would point out that as compared with January 1 of this year the total aggregate of the navies of the three Powers under this treaty will have 'been reduced by nearly 300,000 tons. Had a settlement been made at Geneva in 1927 upon the only proposal then possible the fleets of the three Powers would have been approximately 680,000 tons greater than under the treaty now under consideration.” SENATE’S JUDGMENT AWAITED. PRESIDENT HOOVER’S APPEAL. Washington, July 7. At a meeting especially to give judgment on the London Naval Treaty the Senate heard it advocated on Monday in President Hoover’s message and then ad journed. ••If we fail now the world will again be plunged backward from tho present programme toward peace,” President Hoover said. Should the opponents of the treaty decide to break the quorum at any time it would be almost within their power to do so, as only nine more than the quorum were present. / REVIEW OF. NEGOTIATIONS. Rugby, July 7. In the House of Commons to-day various questions regarding the Naval Treaty were addressed to the Prime Minister. . . , In reply Mr. MacDonald said that, at the time when the preliminary negotiations took place in August and September with the United States, the question of the replacement of cruisers was considered by the Admiralty and the figure of 91,000 tons was put forward for new tonnage to be completed by 1938. This figure was employed in the ensuino' conversations, which had for their object the removal of the earlier difficulties in regard to eraser limitations. These preliminary conversations were for the purpose only of clearing the ground prior to the London Conference. The figure of 91,000 tons was finally fixed during the conference when, after negotiations with the United States and Japan, it was found that it met the British replacement requirements within the terms of the treaty. The Prime Minister added that . the forthcoming Imperial Conference might well afford° a convenient opportunity for discussing the naval building programme in the light of the London Naval Treaty. The definite question of discussing the limitations of tonnage which the treaty imposed eould be raised by any Dominion that so desired.