POWERS’ NAVAL PARITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18353, 26 August 1929, Page 9

POWERS’ NAVAL PARITY.

Mr Churchill’s Warning. VALUE OF BRITISH NAVY. (United Press As«oeiation~By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received August 25. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 24. Naval equality between the United States and Great Britain is expected by informed quarters here to be attained between 1934 and 1940. Two nations have already agreed upon the principle of parity, and one of the most Important questions now being discussed between General Dawes and Mr Ramsay Macdonald, is that determining what year naval equality will be best begun. Progress is being made in working out the prin-' ciples of the whole question, but these have not been completed nor discussed. A hopeful attitude towards settlement is expressed generally here, and an agreement on the basis of these factors is expected as a possibility within a matter of weeks. HIGH HOPES OF AGREEMENT. PRINCIPLE OF PARITY ACCEPTED. (United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received August 25, 5.5 p.m.) VANCOUVER, August 23. At Edmonton, in a speech at a civic banquet, in his honour, Mr Winston Churchill declared that Great Britain sought nothing but peace in the world. Referring to the naval discussions with the United States, Mr Churchill said he would urge his countrymen never to put their hand to a treaty which bound Great Britain to a rigid naval parity with any Power in the world. "If we cannot agree,” said Mr Churchill, "then let us disagree, but do not build more than we require.” The British Navy, he claimed, had been aggressive against none, and had proved a sure shield for liberty during the Great War. ARBITER OF NEGOTIATIONS. PUBLIC SENTIMENT PARAMOUNT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 23. Mr Ramsay MacDonald to-day received the freedom of Elgin, the capital of his native county. General C. G. Dawes, American Ambassador, who was present at the ceremony, referred to his conversations with Mr MacDonald last week. One should remember, he said, that although naval disarmament negotiations might have advanced satisfactorily, they might not necessarily have reached the stage where they could usefully be discussed in detail by the Press. The arbiter of the ultimate fate of this effort would be the public sentiment of the respective countries, and time must be taken to reduce to their very simplest terms, before any public discussion on the problems involved, so that the average man could better understand what it was all about. If the problem was not mastered so that its final solution was clear and satisfactory to the average man, even the Governments might come to preliminary agreements, but the Parliaments and Congresses might not ratify those agreements. In the end it must be realised that the one unforgivable thing now would be inadequate preparation for the proposed Naval Conference. American Attitude. It is understood that in the course of the Dawes-MacDonald conversations, it was indicated, on behalf of President Hoover, that the United States had considerably modified its ideas regarding Britain’s demands for cruisers policing the seas. Apparently the United States, now that the principle of parity has been admitted, is willing to Britain having whatever small cruisers she considers necessary, adequately to protect the Empire trade routes. It is also indicated that objection will no longer be raised concerning merchantmen as potential warships. These modifications are of considerable importance as a deadlock regarding cruisers was principally responsible for the failure of the Geneva Conference.