19 JULY 1930, Page 2

The Naval Treaty On Wednesday the First Lord of the

Admiralty presented in the Lower House the Bill for the ratifications of the Naval Treaty of London. In Washington there is still uncertainty over the same Treaty. At this season there is a constant fear that a quorum of Senators may not appear. • The opponents of ratification have not ceased to call for "secret documents," a bogy which they believe exists somewhere. Some Senators, believing that General. Dawes' dispatches are written in a frank and piquant manner about his fellow-countrymen, have demanded their production, perhaps mainly from love of mischief. President Hoover has refused to produce any such thing, as everyone knew he would. Other Senators have demanded reservations, and there may be a compromise over one that would guarantee that there is no understanding with any other Party upon the construction to be put on any of the contents of the Treaty. Monsieur Briand has resumed negotiations with Italy as agreed after the London Conference, having only waited for the effect of Signor Mussolini's truculent Tuscan speeches to die down. France, in answer to Signor Grandi's appeal for a Naval holiday during the negotiations, undertakes to suspend new building, at any rate, until December. That is better than nothing, and perhaps as much as M. Briand is allowed to offer at the moment.

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