DISARMAMENT

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 13 April 1927, Page 7

DISARMAMENT

fjPcr Press Association— Copyright GENEVA.. April 12. An apparent deadlock concerning naval' armaments had been reached at at the Preparatory Disarmament Conference, when Viscount Cecil, in an . earnest and imports t speech, an- . nounced that Britain found France’s revised proposals unacceptable, and felt obliged to adhere bo the terms of her own draft convention, in which limitation was reached by categories instead of: total tonnage. Britain regarded it as vital not to interfere with the settlement embodied in the Washington Treaty, • hich was working smoothly, and felt that the French proposals op mod wide tli - floor to competition, respect.ng the power, size, and gun-pom of ships. He added that Britain uad special responsibility in naval questions, and she would be false to them if she accepted, any system * ot yielding real security. The Marquese di Marinis said Italy found the French dr t unacceptable, because it was impossible to discuss the subdivisions of er Fleet into vessels employed for Home and for Colonial defence. M. Paul Boncour (France) said that France, having accepted a great disproportion at Washington, cohid not accept any propositic which would restrain her liberty to dispose of her tonnage in the remaining classes as her security and needs might dictate. In speaking to tl a journalists, Viscount Cecil said the Conference would draw up a re -art upon the points on which it agreed, and possibly adjourn after Easter, until November. In the me dime, President Coolidge’s Conference, to which Viscount Cecil attached the utmost importance, will meet at Geneva on June 20.