NAVAL CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 7

NAVAL CONFERENCE

PROCEDURE TO BE MODIFIED FURTHER POSTPONEMENT LIKELY. [ British Official Wirelesa. ] RUGBY’, Jan. 11. It seems likely that the meeting of the First Committee of the Naval Conference, which is fixed for Monday evening, may be postponed until a morn convenient hour on Tuesday morning al the desire of the Japanese delegation. The procedure of the -Conference is being modified to permit of the resumption of the discussion of the Japanese proposal for a common upper limit. The other delegations, it is understood, have experienced a difficulty, which has | not so far been rergived by the elucidations offered by the Japanese delegates, in reconciling this proposal with the concept of equality of security, which has been a leading principle in all disarmament discussions of recent WASHINGTON CONFERENCE STORY OF ITS ORIGIN. NEW YORK, .lan. 10. What purports to be the origin of the 1921 Naval Conference at Washington is revealed by Mr. Eugene Young, cable editor of the New York Times, in his book, “Powerful America,” published to-day. The idea of an Anglo .American naval agreement originated in the mind of Lord Lee, who asked Air. Adolph S. Ochs, late publisher of the New Y'ork Times, personally to transmit, the suggestion to officials at Washington. Air. Ochs did this through an intermediary who discussed the matter with the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Benby, at Washington, and prepared a meniorandura on Lord Lee’s proposal, which, in part, says: “He suggested that an agreement between the two countries (Britain and America) regarding the policing of the seas would have as a! consequence certain limitation of naval construction with, for instance, the U.S.A, taking the guardianship of the Pacific while Britain took the responsibility for the Atlantic.” A generally unfavourable, but nor. specific, reply from Air. Denby was| transmitted to J.ord Leo through the I same channels. Air. Ochs explains thai 1 Lord Lee’s unusual device of communi • eating -with Washington was prompted! by a. desire to prevent suspicion at ; Tokio, Paris, and other capitals. In a later memorandum Air. Ochs' notes that Britain denounced her treaty with Japan and soon afterward Pre 1 sident Harding invited the Powers to! a naval conference. The important.-, with which Lord Lee regarded Aus tralian, New Zealand, and Canadian views on the Pacific naval situation Is impressions of hs conversations wilh Lord Lee. JAPANESE ATTITUDE NO IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL TOKIO, Jan. 12. Cabinet has approved the draft instructions to Admiral Nagano on the lines cabled, namely, that Japan should not immediately withdraw from the Naval Conference if it is avoidable. JAPANESE ATTITUDE FULLER EXPLANATION OF POLICY. Received Jan. I.'’., 8.35 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 13. The Times’ Tokio correspondent says that. Cabinet instructions to the naval delegation direct Admiral Nagano to avoid forcing a formal decision which will necessitate leaving the Conference, but to make a final effort to justify Japan's proposal's. The delegation is instructed also to explain more fully the Japanese ideas regarding a reduction in aggressive types and to point, out that Japan will not. enter agreements perpetuating inequalities, but desires to continue negotiations on submarines and other subsidiary matters. The Policy of Britain. The Tinies’ naval correspondent expresses the opinion that Japan also seeks an agreement on the prolongation and fortification of possessions in the Pacific as laid down at Washington. He adds that Britain and the Dominion delegations will not adopt the procedure of making the Japanese withdrawal inevitable but are not weakening in their attitude regarding the upper limit, especially in view of their dependence on maritime defence whic!i prohibits agreeing to the limits to which other Powers are free to build.