Naval Agreement

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19607, 20 June 1935, Page 7

Naval Agreement

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

GENERAL CONFERENCE PROPOSED. ; \ : > . * ; Sr “■ 3^ DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER POWERS (Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 19. Further steps In the preparations for holding a general conference on the limitation of naval armaments are under consideration by the British Government. Exchanges of views and information with the United States and the Japanese delegates have already taken place, and U Is anticipated that the AngloGerman talks, which resulted yesterday in an agreement, will be concluded on Friday. Expert naval advisers attached to the British and German delegations conferred to-day on certain technical points arising out of the agreement. It is understood the matters under discussion included such questions as the sizes and types of ships and construction programmes. Probably the next series of talks to be held in London will/be with French Ministers, but meanwhile Mr R. A. Eden will visit Paris and discuss with the French Minister's certain aspects of the question, with particular reference to the Anglo-German agreement. Other matters Of European concern will also como under review in these Paris conversations, including the present stage aiul future steps to he taken in connection with the project for a Western air pact. An exchange of views between Italy and Britain on naval matters is also in contemplation. The Soviet Government is being kept informed of lire trend of these preliminary discussions. The Foreign Secretary, Sir Samudl Hoare, replying to a Parliamentary question regarding Herr Hitler’s speech, said Ills Majesty’s Government had asked for the elucidation of a number, of points raised in it, but the replies received had not yet brought matters to the point where they could suitably be made public.

OPINION IN FRANOE. TRIUMPH FOR HERR lIITLER, BIG STEP TOWARD PEACE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright, LONDON, jiune 19. A message from Paris says the newspapers there describe the AngloGerman pact as a triumph for Herr Hitler. Le Journal says the issue Is definitely favourable to France as the agreement does not provide for str'.ot delimitation by categories. Le Petit Parislen says the agreement is equivalent to a permanent final treaty. It has the bilateral aspect so dear to Herr Hitler, who will not .hesitate to proclaim the weakness of the ties of solidarity between London, Paris and Rome. L’Echo de Paris says the treaty marks the end of the accord reached between Britain and Franoe in February and confirmed at Stress. A message from Berlin says the German newspapers wholeheartedly welcome the pact. Tageblatt says: We are convinced that France wants peace, but how can peace be achieved without first restoring order in Europe, toward which tills agreement is the first step. Germania says that by the agreement peace has gained more territory than It lost by the antiGerman policy of the last 18 months,

GERMANY’S POWER RE-BORN.

IMPORTANCE OF NORTH SEA,

BASE MAY BE RE-OPENED

United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright

LONDON/June 19,

The naval correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hector Bywater, points out that the re-birth of Germany's naval power will mean live return of tho North Sea to Its former strategic importance and that Rosyth Dockyard and the Fleet base at Scapa Flow, long closed, possibly will bs reopened. Germany’s eventual submarine tioet. says the writer, may, under the agreement, comprise 36 U boats, or 10 more than In August, 1914.

TO REMOVE MISUNDERSTANDING. MR EDEN FOR PARIS. RUSSIA ASKED TO CONFER. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, June 18. The Daily Telegraph’s dlplomatlo correspondent says the Government has decided that Mr R, A. Eden shall visit Paris on Friday lo remove any doubts oxisting in the French mind that Britain acted heedlessly in concluding a direct agreement with Germany without previous consultation with the other Powers concerned. The political correspondent of tho Times says Britain also is inviting Russia to confer. America and Japan have communicated with Britain, favouring the agreement.

DEFENCE OF OOAST. ONLY PURPOSE OF FLEET. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. 'LONDON, June 18. A message from Berlin states that the Vocikischo Beobaehter siy* the German delegation, headed by Herr von Ribbenli’op, made it clear that tho only purpose of the Fleet Is to defend Germany’s 900 miles of ooast. Even French diplomacy, remarks tho paper, should be able for once to ex» amine the /acts without jprQjueUf©,