"NAVAL HOLIDAY"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1930, Page 9

"NAVAL HOLIDAY"

ONLY EXPERTS LEFT

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS

British Official Wireless.

(Eoceived 20th February, 11.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, 19th February.

The only remaining* member of the French delegation to the London Naval Conference, M. Leygues, returned to Paris yesterday and, until tho French political crisis is over, major negotiations between delegates must necessarily bo delayed. The tonnage figures put forward in tho memorandum submitted by the various Powers are still being studied by tho delegations, but the only formal meeting fixed for today is that of the Sub-Committee of Experts, which is examining the position in any scheme for ascertaining the total naval tonnage requirements of the special classes of ships which, whilo not being oxempt, do not fall under proposed categories.

Tho Naval Conference communique, issued to-night, states that, as a result of consultation between the heads of all the delegations now in London, it has been decided that tho Conference shall stand adjourned until Wednesday next. Meanwhile, tho Expert Committee set up by the First Committee will complete the work upon which it is now engaged.

Tho adjournment is, of course, the sequel to the French political crisis wliich involves the absence from the Conference of the leaders of the French delegation. It is understood that tho French Ambassador in London was consulted upon and concurred in the proposal to adjourn. The French exports are collaborating in tho work upon wliich the Export Committee is now engaged, namely, tho allocation of tho so-called special vessols to category or exempt classes.^ The Committee will, however, not take up the examination of the submarine question till France is again fully represented at the Confereneo. • The leading members of the other delegations are remaining in London during tho week's "naval holiday" and will be in informal contact.