NEITHER ORATORY NOR ELOQUENCE AT GENEVA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 7

NEITHER ORATORY NOR ELOQUENCE AT GENEVA.

GENEVA, June 20. The opening session of the Naval Limitations Conference was not an impressive function. An historic feature was that the United States participated for the first time in any conference held at Geneva since the formation of the League of Nations. The early proceedings emphasised the fact that the Conference was breaking new ground. It had no precedents to guide it, and no agenda before it. for, though it is the sequel to the Washington Conference, it is unlike it because only three Powers are represented, while the Washington gathering was more embracing, and assembled in the face of a clear-cut programme. The speeches were entirely devoid of oratory or eloquence, all being carefully read documents. Mr W. C. Bridgeman specially em-j

l phasised the fact that Britain’s proposals were made with the consent of , all the dominions’ representatives, but, I. in accordance with the decisions of the Imperial Conference, any resulting ! treaty would be made in the names : the heads of the various dominions agreeing to participate. He also went out of his way to stress that Britain’s proposals were formed to make it easier, and not harder, for France and Italy to join the Conference. lie added that he believed that the success of the Conference depended more upon a plain-language statement of what each nation wanted in the shape of a navy, and why it wanted it, than in rhetoric. Britain is represented by Mr W. C. Bridgeman, First Lord of the Admiralty, Viscount Cecil and Vice-Ad-miral Field. New Zealand is represented by Sir James Parr, Earl Jellicoe and Rear-Admiral Beal. There are 150 journalists present, representing newspapers in all parts of the world. The Conference cabled to President Coolidge expressing the most profound appreciation of his humane and wise initiative; and stating that it was hopeful of having satisfactory results, i President Coolidge replied stating that an Anglo-American-Japanese agreement preventing naval competition would lastingly cement the present { good relations and constitute a definite step towards the general limitation of armaments. America would make the utmost effort to ensure an agreement. After fixing the times for committee meetings, the Conference adjourned.