NAVAL LIMITATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17169, 3 August 1927, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATION.

COMPROMISE IMPROBABLE AMERICAN PROPOSAL UNPOPULAR. PLENARY SESSION TO-MORROW. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) GENEVA, August 2. The plenary session of the naval arms limitation conference will not be held before Thursday. The leading delegates expect the conference to terminate on that day without result, as there is no likelihood of a last-minute compromise being effected. The Japanese delegates are trying to arrange compromise, hut like the British representatives they view unfavourably the political clause proposed by Ihe Americans for insertion in the suggested treaty. Many observers regard this clause as a means of reserving to the United States freedom to construct cruisers with 8-inch guns, and that is the crux of the situation. Probably the delegates are really considering the best way of closing the conference and of adjourning the disarmament problem until 1931,"when the Washington Treaty is to he reviewed. LATER. "T-T MR COOLIDGE’S INSTRUCTIONS. TO AMERICAN DELEGATIONS. EVERY EFFORT TO BE MADE. (Rec. August 3, 9.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 2. The President, Mr Goolidge, has instructed the United States delegation at Geneva to make every effort to reach an agreement. Failing this, he expects the Conference will adjourn sine die. He believes that at the Plenary session on Thursday an. effort will be made to agree with Britain. OMINOUS PORTENTS. IN DIRECTION OF BREAKDOWN. THE LAST GLEAM OF HOPE. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 3, 9.30 a.m.) GENEVA, August 2. The portents are still markedly in the direction of a breakdown and the conference. Admiral Saito (Japan), after meeting with Mr. W. C. Bridgeman (Britain), had nothing new to suggest in the way of a solution. The last gleam of hope is Admiral Saito’s quarter-of-an-hour interview this morning with Mr. Gibson (America), coupled with the changed attitude of the American Press. The British and Japanese camps are suspicious of America’s political clause, -which is regarded as paving the way to secret competitive building, the very opposite of the whole object of Mr. Coolidge’s aspirations. . Both camps are of opinion that it will inevitably confuse the issues and complicate what might have been the innocuous break-up of the conference.