The Washington times., 1929-10-17
POWERS To FIX
PARLEY SCOPE
SHORTLY
By GEORGE R. HOLMES
international News Service

With all Of the powers on
record today as willing TO par
ticipate in the London naval
conference, the really impor-
tant and highly delicate part
Of the undertaking is to get
under way Immediately. This
involves the adjustment of d.
vergent views, and the ironing
out Of as many obstacles as
possible before the conference
actually meets.
1t Is still three months before the
delegates assemble in London. This
period is considered here as a sort
Of diplomatic interlude. period Of
careful preparation and adjustment.
Hope for Conferences
Just as Great Britain and the
United States were able, by private
negOtiat ton, to settle virtually all
their differences before the invita-.
tions went out, so are Premier Mac
Donald and President Hoover hope
ful that the same private negotia-
ton in the next three months will
see Franco-Italian differences yield
to adjustment, and many of the
obstacles cleared away that now
loom SO menacingly in the pathway
of the conference.
In the British call for the CON
ference, all of the powers were
invited TO utilize this three months
period for an exchange of opinions
between themselves. All of them
took note of it and accepted.
Consequently the next three months
are going to witness a vast amount
Of private dickering in London.
Paris. and Rome.
One of the first things to be
settled is the scope of the confer.
ence. On this point, there are
some acute differences between the
United States and the rest of the
powers.
AS conceived in Washington and
so expressed in the note of Amer
ican acceptance. the London gather.
ing is to be an extension of the
original Washington Arms Confer.
enCe. the aim of which will be to
complete in London what was
started at Washington 1ght years
ago. and the results written into
treaty form.
The otter powers, Great Britain
included, seem to have totally
different idea. The British note of
invitation set forth that it would
be the aim Of the London confer
ence Ito elaborate a text to facil-
tot ha ocls oF LA r faF
Nations preparatory commission
and OF the subsequent general dis.
armament conference"
1t was noted here significantly
that both France ard Italy took up
this phra seology in their aCCeptances.
plainly indicating that they regard
the January gathering as sort of
tail 10 the League OF Nations kite.
This diverg ance of views may or
may not be important in the final
analysis. but it is point that is
going to require some threshing
out. If France and Italy take the
position that the London confer.
ence is not to he conclusive. but
merely an academic discussion to
assist the League, the whole aspect
OF the undertaking is changed.
1taly's no;e of acceptance. while
cordial and unconditional on its
face. nevertheless furnished evil
dence that there is some rough
sleding ahead for the conference.
Insists on Parity
Indirectly but nevertheless en-
phatically, Italy served notice that
she will insist upon naval parity
with France.
France has never vet conceded
this point to her Mediterranean
rival. and, on the contrary, has
steadfastly maintained that TO grant
Italian parity means French in
feriority on the Mediterranean. The
French arrive at this thesis by point
ing out that nearly all of ItaIy's in
terests border on the Mediterranean,
thus enabling her to maintain the
bulk of the Italian fleet there.
whereas French interests are more
world wide. requiring the French
fleet to be thinly spread out.
The French counter Italy's slo.
gan of parity with France" with
another slogan. parity with Italv
on the Mediterranean" which of
course, means French superiority
on a world basis.
Moreover. the Franco-1talian posi-
tion is that naval limitation should
he carried out on global basis,
leaving each nation free to build
the type of ships best suited for
its needs. Italy. for example, might
want to build nothing but cruisers
and submarines.
The British position is opposed to
this. Limitation by category. that is,
by classes of ships, is the backbone
of the British thesis of reduction. to
which the United States has sub
scribed. There will have to he some
intensive work. done before this
point is adjusted.
These are only a few of the many
problems that will be discussed be-
tween London. Washington. Paris,
Rome and Toxic, during the next
three months. But they are indica.
tive OF what remains to he accom-
plished before President Hoover and
Premier Macdonald realize their
drea ms.