NAVAL LIMITATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19769, 17 February 1927, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATION

FRANCE’S ATTITUDE STATEMENT BY M. BRIAND PROPOSALS HAVE CHANCE OF .. . SUCCESS [Br Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received Feb. 16, 11.45 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 16. Referring to President Coolidge’s proposals, M. Briand said the French delegates at Geneva had secured acceptance of tho general principles, firstly that it was impossible to limit navies without considering armies and air forces; secondly, the limitation of navies was only achievable by the attribution to each Power of the total tonnage for division according to requirements. “The American proposals,” he said, “ignore these principles. France holds that the preparatory committee, as the result of recent debates, may enable the disarmament conference to have serious chances of success.” Therefore, in view of his duty as a member of the League of Nations and in view of the fact that he was also convinced that durable work could only be built up by the Powers’ joint assent, he believed the proposals could be efficaciously studied by the preparatory committee. JAPAN WILL CO-OPERATE BUT WILL PROCEED WITH NAVAL BILL. PREMIER’S STATEMENT OF POLICY. TOKIO, Feb. 15. It is understood that Cabinet has decided to reply to America accepting the proposal for a disarmament conference, subject to the Imperial sanction. Replying to interpellations in the Upper House the Premier stated that the decision to participate in the proposed conference did not warrant postponement of the Naval Bill, as it was impossible to foretell the result of the. conference.