NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE

ITALY’S NEW PROPOSAL.

; United Press Association.— By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, February- 12,

To-day’s progress of the Naval Conference was real hut severely technical. ’ The outstanding fact is the experts at last reached a stage for a printed report of the compromise between the global and categorical methods, including a schedule table of categories favoured by Britain, and in the form acceptable to France and Italy, and available to all other Naval powers willing to, adopt it. If, when it becomes part of the League of Nations Disarmament Convention it will be a committment of value.

The table is difficult to make plain until the blanks for the total tonnage are filled in but the table seems to ofFer a compromise solution of the problem that hitherto proved insoluble.

The Italian bureau foreshadows an early Italian statement proposing the Great Powers scrap the capital ships, •also a number of heavy cruisers, expressing the opinion that if that were done, there will be no need for the smaller Powers to have submarines. Conference circles consider there is little hope of such a sweeping plan being adopted, though it is suggested a reduction of the big tonnage strengthens the case for whittling down the submarines. Italy’s plan is directly related, to. the, ;s;crapj>, ing discussions.: ’’ «*• "" •' !

TONNAGE PUZZLE

WASHINGTON,: February : 12.

The State Department refuses to answer the criticisms of the American Delegation in London- while the Naval Conference is in session, but the general feeling is expressed by Mr Cotton', acting-Secretary of State, who said: ‘“Tins business of shooting at a piano player is indoor sport which 1 deplore.” He added that he bad received no communication from Mr Stimson bearing upon the proposal •f- the United States build a new super dreadnought. He declined to comment further.

Senator Metcalf proposed that the United States should purchase the British battleship Rodney, and charge the p.rice against the British debt to America.