Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-03
Powerful Agreement Among
~
Three Powers at Least
Assured by Action.
ITALY ASKED TO JOIN
MEDITERRANEAN SET-UP
New Optimism Follows Conviction
of Failure Manifest on All
Sides Over Week End.
BY the Associated Press.

OF difficult negotiations, during which
Obstacles often were encountered that
seemed insurmountable, the Naval Con-
ference this afternoon was recorded in
American, British and Japanese circles
as having achieved great success.
This position was reached after a con-
ference this morning wherein the Amer
leans and British accepted the Japan
csc governments reservations to the
American-British naval proposals.
Thus was assured at least a power
full three-power agreement as an out
come of the conference even if France
and Italy cannot participate.
In this connection observers were
much interested in a statement made
this afternoon by A. v. Alexander, first
lord OF the British admiralty. Speaking
at BriXton, Mr.. Alexandria said
This week the conference is much
more hopeful than it was little time
ago."
Reed Issues Statement.
Senator Reed, credited with having
been instrumental in solving the Ameri-
can, British and Japanese problem,
made the following statement:
Il cannot too strongly impress on you
the fine spirit in which the Japanese
and British have met us. There was no
disposition to bubble on the part of any
one of the three delegations.
"All three delegations have been
frank and fair. cannot imagine more
pleasant negotiations than these have
been. The result was not victory for
any one, but an honorable and reason
able settlement between the three"
At the conclusion of the meeting the
three chiefs appointed sub-commit-
and Capt. Alexander Van Kueren,
representing the United States; Ad-
miral Fisher and Capt. Bellairs, repre-
senting Great Britain, and Admiral Abo
and Capt. Toyoda, representing Japan,
to study the amount of tonnage which
would normally be laid down in
Japanese yards under the Reed-Matsu-
daira agreement and make suggestions
to supplement deficiencies which would
come about through the yards not hav-
ing sufficient work. The report of this
subcommittee is expected early next
week.
Italy's Aid Is Asked.
italy has been asked to join Great
Britain and France in a mutual security
arrangement affecting the Mediter-
ranean, it became known. Meanwhile
Arthur Henderson and Aristide BRAND.
French foreign secretary, continued
their negotiations regarding the extent
to which Great Britain will guarantee
France against aggression.
Despite some indications of further
difficulties for the flve-power Naval
Conference, Col. Stimson, head of the
American delegation, said:
1.-THE situation is much improved since
last week and am much more optimis-
tic of f1ve-power agreement now than
I was at that time"
Some conference observers saw in the
invitation to italy to join in the
Mediterranean security arrangement a
jockeying by the French for a position
from which it might be suggested to
Italy that, since everybody's security
was guaranteed. the Mussolini govern
ment might abandon its claim for naval
parity with France.
French Concessions Specialized.
Behind all the talk of a security
arrangement there has run a current
of speculation as to the extent of re-
auctions in the French naval program
which M. BRAND will make in return
If his answer was to be found in pub
lished statements credited to him today.
these same observers saw considerable
further negotiation before a five-power
limitation pact is reached.
It was said to be the French foreign
minister's view that a FreIch-B British
security arrangement - and when
reached, will be outside the Naval Con-
ference, win benefit all members of the
League of Nations and VIII offer no
reason why France should make any
special naval reductions, which rather
should be made proportionately by all
the powers.
New Optimism Arises.
New optimism has succeeded the con-
viction of failure, which was manifest
almost everywhere over the week end.
Although many believed the Italians
eventually would acquiesce in some
arrangement agreeable to France. there
still were no indications of recession.
Experts from the various delegations
met today to discuss aircraft carriers.
There are other technical problems also
to occupy their attention.
Only optimistic differences were drawn
from the postponement of the plenary
session scheduled for Friday until next
week.