The Washington times., 1930-01-20
DUETS FEAR Of
FRANCE AND !.
ITALY
CONTINUED From Page -

task confronting the delegates
and. the delicacy with which the
numerous controversial issue s
must be handled, it is felt that
such a deliberate course viii prob
ably prove best for the ultimate
success Of the conference.
It was pointed out that the
cautious beginning expected to-
morrow win be in sharp contrast
with the opening Of the Washing
ton conference Of 1921-1922 when
Secretary Of State Hughes electri-
Tied the world by proposing flat
ratio Of tonnage for all powers.
It Is evident that nothing even
remotely approaching that iroce-
drre is contemplated. The dele
gates Of all the nations attend
In win approach the question Of
tonnage figures in a most gin.
gerly fashion.
Later this afternoon, the CON-
plete French and Italian delega-
tionS made separate formal calls
upon the complete British dele
cation.
French and italian suspicious
concerning a possible Anglo
American combine in the five
power naval disarmament parley,
which have been pronounced
ever since Prime Minister j.
Ramsay MacDonald's trip to
Washington last October, have
been disSipated to considerable
extent over a hectic weekend
which saw Secretary of State
Henry L. Stimson in almost con
tinuouS conferences.
The chief American delegate
to the conference which opens
tomorrow gave Premier Andre
Tardieu and Foreign Minister
Dino Grand, respective heads
Of the French and italian dele.
cations, definite assurances there
was no thought of jamming a
pre-arranged Anglo-American pro-
gram down Latin throatS.
To the French and italian
statesmen, Secretary Stirnson
fully explained the American
position, both as regards naval
categories and political phases,
emphasizing President Hoover'S
desire for most extreme reduc-
ton in naval ornaments consist
ent with safety, and particularly
Stressing the point that the
United States cannot participate
, In security pactS in the Meoiter-
ranean or otherwise.
Secretary StimSon seemed
greatly encouraged after the con-
ferenceS with Tardieu and Grandi,
saying that he found "a satisfac-
tory and encouraging mutual
spirit of good will"
It is understood that actual dis
armament figures were not dis
cusSed saved in most general
terms, StimSon preferring to
leave those to the conference it.
self.
It is understood that France is
demanding that the political
phases involved in the security
pact she is asking proceed con-
currently with the naval arma-
ment discussions, but confirmation
Of this must await the opening
Of the conference.
Published reports Of an Anglo
American disagreement over bat
tleShipS on the eve of the con-
ference have been denounced as
sheerest bunk.
These arose from Premier Mac
Donald's statement expressing
the hope Of battleship abolition
some time in the future. The
Americans have the same idealis-
tic hope, but neither the British
nor American naval experts con-
slider it feasible at the present
time.
What does appear feasible is
poStponement Of the replacement
due during the next five years
so that the whole question may
be re-examined in 1896, when half
the battleShip fleets of both
countries become obsolete.
The first touch of pageantry in
connection with the conference
occurred this morning as the five
chief delegates gathered .at 10
Downing Street for the last i'm
portant conference before the
parley begins.
The new giant British dirigible
R-100, on a test flight over London
floated low as it reached White
hall, in the center of London, and
Swooped down over the prime
minister's residence as the dele
gates were gathering for their
talk.
Great crowds in the street
cheered the hugh airship, the
largest in the world The dirigi-
BILE, however, did not have the
ovation all to itself. Handicap
ping greeted all the delegates as
they entered 10 Downing Street,
and Secretary Stimson, who alone
represented the United States at
the conference was accorded an
especially generous ovation.