NAVAL LIMITATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 196, 22 August 1935, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATION

PROPOSED CONFERENCE THE FRENCH ATTITUDE LONDON', Aug. 20. The Paris correspondent of the Times says it is understood the Government has no objection to the principle of holding a Naval Conference in London in October. The recent visit of Mr. Danckwets from the British Admiralty carried an exchange of views as far as possible at present. A Note sent to London from tho Quai d'Orsay setting out the French views on the British proposal to abandon global in favour of a qualitative limitation, guardedly approves of this principle, and suggests in default of a general agreement that some system of warning may be possible under which the signatories should give, say, one or two years’ notice of their programmes. Those responsible for the French naval policy are still reluctant to draw up a long-term programme. They point out that until negotiations for an agreement to replace the Washington and London agreements are more advanced France must reserve liberty of action, especially in view of the uncertainty as to the rate of German construction.