NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

A REPORT ISSUED. (United Proas Association. — By Electric, lelegrapu. —Copyright, i (Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. The “Evening j.\ews” says the Conference decided not to disetns the abo.ition of submarines. 'lnis does not preclude later discussions on, the limitation of those craft. A communique issued reads: “Heads of delegations continued the discussions at Downing Street on the programme of work and adjourned at one o Vj.eoK, resuming at loh ' te-morroW at Sc James’ Palace. British, French and Italians are meeting at four this afternoon, British and French at five o’clock, British and Japanese at first opportunity ” The American spokesman, Mr u'ilson, of the Ministry at Berne, denied America’s adhesion to the Mediterranean Locarno, not yet submitted for consideration, nor a proposal that she slion,ld agree to Japan being granted, a cruiser parity with her. There lias not been any lurtlier official conversations on Japan’s desire to have the ten, ten, seven cruiser ratio. British and American experts had not yet -discussed the outstanding margin of thirty thousand ton cruisers': The position regarding the • extension of the lfie of battleships had not yet arisen in a practical form.

PROGRESS REPORTS. \ LONDON, Jan. 27. Outwardly there is no spectacular progress to report from the Conference but there have been certain developments not without significance, particularly concerning the Empire’s policy. It is understood Mr MacDonald has expressed disgust with what he has reason to believe are deliberate attempts to impede the.conference by the very interests who have suggested, among other things, that dissension exists among the Dominion delegates, at is a piquant reflection on this rumour that there is a growing impression that the Conference, far from splitting Dominions, is confirming, if not strengthening the Empire's solidarity. There is a close similarity between the utterances of Mr MacDonald and of the Lbnuinion’s representatives. All are emthusiastie on the vital need for the adequate protection of sea routes. Mr Fenton was the only Dominion delegate at to-day’s meeting, which is reported to have provided the Conference’s first l’eal liveliness, to such an extent that it lasted three hours, after which the only agreement was to-mor-row’s continuation to deal with the procedure in alphabetical order. Apparently there was a duel between M. Tardieu and Signor Grandi; and both were outspoken. Italy wanted the agenda to commence with ratios on the basis af maximum tonnage, but Franc objected, declaring it was useless to comriience the discussion until it was decided whether the method of procedure was to be global or some other measure.

The fact that the Conference is in the second week without a single concrete proposal having been announced, is causing a little restlessness in press lobbies, but delegations and official spokesmen have pointed out that all goes well. It is understood one of the obstacles to arranging an agenda is America’s fear that if the battleship’s life extension is the subject of the first agreement, it will upset the Anglo-American cruiser parity in a sense. France’s reported claim for twelve 10,000 tonners, introduces a new element in the balance of the fleet. It is understood the reason the Big Five are not ready to issue an agenda is that Mr Stimson, who this morning waived the alphabetical right to state first Amrica’s preference of the order of business. This wasting policy clearly relates to the difficulties as between battleships and cruisers. A British spokesmen, justifying the delay, emnhasised attempts were being made to clear a way to major points and freeing the path from political and side issues which could be separately Ho«mtnl, where Kairama was chaiged weightier problems that happened at the previous conference.

HON. T. WILFORD. LONDON, January 27. Hon. T. Wilford in the course of a statement at the end of the first week said:—“l am pleased to report that I have been given every opportunity to make myself “an fait” with all that is going on at the Conference. Britain has shown the Dominion, delegates every possible consideration notably -Mr MacDonald and Mr Hankey.”