NAVAL PARITY FOR JAPAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 17

NAVAL PARITY FOR JAPAN

FEARS OF BREAKDOWN OF DISCUSSIONS ANGLO - AMERICAN PLAN MOOTED United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph —Copyright (Received November 16, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 16, The United States has under consideration the British overtures for joint action in naval affairs in the event of the tri-party discussions in London ending in failure. The Secretary of State (Senator Cordell Hull), carrying full details of the proposals, boarded President Roosevelt’s special train on Thursday night to discuss the important question with the President, as he speeds towards Tenessee Valley. Senator Hull is to return to Washington on Saturday, and it is not likely that any reply will be made to Britain until then. It was reported that Japan’s insistence on equality led the British delegates to make overtures on Wednesday to Mr Norman Davis (American representative at Geneva). CONCERN FOR DEFENCE OF BRITAIN PROPOSAL TO CHANGE SITE OF WOOLWICH ARSENAL United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 16, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 16. “The Daily Herald” says: Acting on advice from the Cabinet, the Committee of Imperial Defence has decided to remove the Woolwich Arsenal to the West Coast. High officials in the War Office and the Admiralty are considering sites and their decision will depend on such matters as defensability from air raids and railway and harbour facilities. NEEDS OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE STATEMENT BY BRITISH MINISTER British Official Wireless (Received November 16, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 15. During a debate in the House of Lords on the definition of the needs for national Imperial defence, Lord Hailsham (Secretary of State for War) agreed with Earl Beatty that modern developments did not in any way diminish the importance of the older arms in the service. The co-operation of the three services had never been more actual than at present. In reply to a question, Lord Hailsham said: “The capital ship still forms the essential element in the Battle Fleet, upon which the whole structure of naval strategy depends." The capital ships in the Navy were approaching the limit for age and efficiency, and the question of their replacement was to be considered before very long. War-built cruisers were being replaced by a steady programme. The question of the number of cruisers that were necessary to provide for our sea communications was a matter of most serious consideration. The urgent and imperative necessity for maintaining the fleet in a position adequate to maintain security and communications was fully recognised. Lord Hailsham, after dealing with the Army, outlined at length the steps taken to implement the Government’s announcement regarding the increase in the strength of the Royal Air Force. The Air Minister had definitely decided on eleven sites for new aerodromes, and the sites had been actually acquired, or were well advanced towards acquisition. The programme announced by the Air Minister was being steadily and actively pursued.