BRITISH SPOKESMAN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 41, 18 February 1930, Page 11

BRITISH SPOKESMAN

SOME EMBARRASSMENT

FUSILLADE OF QUESTIONS

(Received 18th February, noon.)

LONDQN, 17th February.

The British spokesman found himself under a .fusillade of questions as to what progress had been made in reconciling the British and American tonnage agreement with the excessive : French and Japanese, figures. Ho admitted that the production of large tonnages seriously affected the relativity of the British position. For "example,'1' Britain had reduced hor cruisers'claim fronv7o to 50, when there appeared a different sfatp of affairs from when, stipulated, for a minimum of 70. But new and unforeseen circumstances -had arisen to, make the whole- question of ratios tlio subject of very serious consideration. '

An American asked, did it mean tha.t Britain was going to scale upwards. The spokesman .replied negatively. Then he went, on to. say that nobody had modified "absolute needs and rigid demands." "..-.':

His use of the terms with embarrassment and perturbation indicated that the conference had reached a very difficult stage, iv which much hard work and logic were needed to persuade France and Japan to reduce their totals. .....

Continental journalistsmentioned the bearing of the Mediterranean Locarno upon the problem. '

The spokesman replied that this was purely, a naval, conference, and could not assume a political character. Tlio JSxperts' Committee this afternoon discusses special ships! hitherto unclassified.

Mr. Mac Donald and Mr. Stimson telegraphed sympathy with M. Tardieu, who is detained in Paris by influenza.