M. TARDIEU CONFIDENT

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17971, 17 March 1930, Page 7

M. TARDIEU CONFIDENT

THE NAVAL CONFERENCE. DANGER OF HASTE. ’? ~r'i f ( " y DIFFICULTIES BEING SURMOUNTED United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. —Copyright. (Received March 17, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. M. Tardieu, when he returned to London from Chequers, said: We have examined the whole situation together, particularly the points interesting to Britain and France. On the one hand we specified questions about which an agreement is either certain or easy; on the other hand we examined those concerning which agreement has hitherto appeared difficult to reach. I am 'convinced we shall reach a satisfactory result if we exclude unwise haste. PRACTICALLY DEAD. FEELING IN FRANCE.. ONLY A MIRACLE CAN SAVE IT United Press Assn.—Elec. Tpl.—Copyright. (Received March 17, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 16. The Sunday Times’ Paris correspondent, in a despatch, says that France was never greatly enamoured with the Disarmament Conference, preferring the preparatory commission at Geneva; therefore she is not keenly disappointed at the present crisis. Unless M. Tardieu’s visit to London or Signor Grandi’s telephone talks to Rome produce a miracle, the French opinion is that the conference is practically dead, which fact will occasion little surprise and lew tears. M. TARDIEU IN LONDON. ANGLO-FRENCH CONVERSATIONS* STILL A GLIMMER OF HOPE. (Official Wireless.) (Received March 17, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 16.The French Prime Minister, M. Tardieu, arrived in London last night -and was welcomed,at the station by . the First Lord of the Admiralty and representatives of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. The leading members of the French delegation to the London Naval Conference were also present. M. Tardieu proceeded at once to his hotel, and this morning he went to Chequers, where he was the guest of the British Prime Minister at luncheon. Accompanying him were the French Ministers for Foreign Affairs (M. Briand), and Marine (M. Dumesnil). Mr. A. Henderson and Mr. R. L. Craigic, chief British expert, were also present. The communique after the meeting was in the following terms: “In the course of conversations lasting from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., the two delegations examined the general situation, with particular reference to the present state of the discussions on the questions of special concern to both parties. They considered fully the means best adopted to ensure fully cess of the negotiation. Hopes are entertained that the difficulties with which the conference has been faced since the examination of the French tonnage figures began may be eased as the result of week-end exchanges. French objections to Italian insistence on parity still remain the immediate obstacle to progress, but efforts are being continued with the purpose of finding a middle course between the French refusal to reduce her tonnage figures in the absence of, a Mediterraneaii treaty, and Italy’s refusal to produce concrete figures of her requirements beyond a general declaration of tier demand for parity with the strongest European 'Conti-, nental Power. Conversations to this end have been proceeding almost 'continuously since Thursday, when the Prime Minister saw first M. Briand and later Signor Grandi. A meeting between M. Briand and Signor Grandi yesterday was a long one, but apart from a brief Italian statement recording the meeting and M. Briand’s comment that the political stage of the discussion was not yet over, no public indication was given of What took place. Chief interest now centres in to-morrow’s conference between the French and British Prime Ministers at Chequers. M. Lodon, chairman of the League of Nations preparatory disarmament commission, lias arrived in London to discuss with the special representative of the League, Monsieur Colban, the date of the next sitting of the commission.