New Britain herald., 1929-02-16


 in determining each others attitude and that tho ground work for the proposed barley might be laid by the time the elections are over.
 Hugh Gibson. American ambassa- dor to Belgium, and the United States delegate to the unsuccessful three-power naval barley at Geneva in 1927. is now on his way to the United States to discuss with the Washington government its attitude on the preparatory disarmament conference which opeps in Geneva on April IS.
 lAd Headlines In London
 London. Feb. l6 LR-As indicative of the importance they attached to it. English newspapers today. un. der big head lines, carried stories of Sir Esme Towards tnttmation at Washington yesterday of further British efforts at disarmament.
 There was little editorial comment on and no support of Sir Esme's statement from official London quarters. However, . full cabinet council was held in Premier Bald wins rooms in the house of com. mons yesterday which 1t was be- iieved might lead to an early stats- ment in commons by Foreign secrc- tary Chamberlain. regarding Great Britain's plans for new approach to the disarmament problem. It is known that Foreign Secretary Chamberlain recently has been de. voting most of his time to study of the question.
 The Anti-Government Daily News points to the meeting of the prepar- at0ry disarmament commission at Geneva April It and says if this meeting is not to be . rarce new proposals must be submitted and it would be natural if these came from Britain.
 Referring to the abortive propos- ais in connection with the Anglo French compromise 1t says: If the present position could be retrieved by q success from Geneva it would be a happy event. and particularly valuable from Prime Minister Bald- wins point of view. on the eve of the general election"
 The Chronicles diplomatic com ment is that the amba -sador's statc- ment is apparently an attempt to take the matter out of control of the naval experts whose ascendancy led to the breakdown at Geneva. Japan Welcomes News Tokyo, Feb. 16 discrimination by Sir Esme Howard, British am- bassador at Washington. that Great Britain soon may take the lead in further efforts toward disarmament is welcomed here.
 Reiterating . start taken by the naval minister before the diet Thurs. day. a naval ministry spokesman today emphasized the desirabiity Of ealing an arms reduction conference before 1881. He said Japan was willing to agree to further reduce tions in naval tonnage and guns, but recalled his country's desire to change the present ration of 5-5-3 for capital ships to 10-10-7 for all classes of fighting craft.
 Difficulties F0scscem A naval spokesman. stresslng Japan's willingness to participate in attempt to ensure peace through h limitation. nevertheless foresaw diff. faculties in sucf questions as the desire of the United States for . definition of . neutral's right and the freedom of the seas and in the desire of Great Britain to reduce the limits of capital ships in tonnage and guns.
 Pointing out that Sir Esme indi- cated the new proposals would as- sume the completion of America ( IS cruiser program. the spokesman expressed belief that undoubtedly tJapan would complete her current eight cruiser program of the Nachi class.
 With the problem of funds fol the new programs after 1891 TO. placing Japan's present 10 capital ships already debated in the diet lthe Tokyo government is sympathe.