Evening star., 1927-03-13
JAPAN AND BRITAIN
SENT ARMS BIDS.
Formal Requests to Attend
Geneva ParIey June !
Given ENJOYS.
Nv N. Associated press.

BY the Associated Press.
Formal invitations to participate
in q naval arms conference at Ienevs
were transmitted yesterday 10 ths
British and Japanese governments
both OF whom previously had ADVISED
the State Department that tney "ouio
accept. 49,
The invitations, transmitted to tne
British and japanese amoassauole
hsra hv Acting Secretary Grew, pro
posed that the Geneva naVal olsc
sions begin June / or soon thereaIoet
and Expressed regret of the American
Government that France and ltaly
had seen At to decline the Suggestion
that they also participate. ROPE Was
expressed. however, that botn Euro
mean governments would be represent
cd informally.
Invitations Published.
The identic notes OF invitation 70 -
Great Britain and Japan were mace
pubic by the department with the
q a1rAAment of the two Ambassadors.
THE note to Great Britain, addressed
to Ambassador Howard, read as 1oi
lows:
with reference to the memoran
dunn handed by the American amnas
sador to His Majestys secretary ol
&IAIG
1O. 1927. regarding the possibility OF
the Initiation of negotiations at Geneva
concerning the limitation OF naVal
Armament between the representa-
tives OF the powers signatpries OF the
washington treaty OF 1922. my gov
ernment is pleased to learn as tne
result OF informal conversations that
the British government is willing to
participate in negotiations with United
States and Japan.
THE American Government regrets
that France and Italy should have
formally refused the Presidents . lnvi'
tation and shares the opinion OF Hls
Majesty's government that their pres
ence would be most welcome at such
q conference. This Government sin
cerely hopes, therefore, that they may
decide TO be represented at least In
some informal manner at the conyer'
sations contemplated.
Farley Set for June.
'These conversations, 1t now ap'
pears, could. most advantageously and
conveniently begin at Geneva on the
first day OF June, or soon thereafter.
Publication Of the formal invitation
served to disclose that all three gov.
ernfnents now have expressed hopes
- q
possible TO take some part in the Ge.
nsya negotiations.
As anticipated. the invitation leaves
the door TO the fullest discussion at
Geneva wide cpen. No suggestions OF
any kind 40 to ways and means Tor ex-
tending the theory OF tonnage hmita-
ton 20 other than capital ships and
aircraft carriers il presented. nor is
any OF the three governments com
mttted in advance on any phase OF the
questions that will arise at Geneva.
May Consider Planes.
An element OF the discussions at
Geneva il bound to be the question of
thu relation Of naval air forces to
surface craft. whether there In any
possibility Of extending limitations
even to various types Of naval air
craft remains to be seen, although Il
Ii to be anticipated that whatever
possibilities may exist in that direc
ticn win be looked over carefully al
the thre0-power cDnference. 81
The Washington Government had
not decided yesterday whether add
nigned to Geneva for the confer
ence. The matter will be discussed
with the Navy Department, but there
10 no particular reason for. haste
and developments At the sessions OF
the Geneva preparatory commission
which reopens March 21, and may
have much to do with q decision.
lf tho present star OF naval experts
II tied up by committee work of the
preparatory commission additional
naval ofncers undoubtedly will be as
signed In order that there may be
no delay on our account in the three.
power negotiations.