NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE HELD UP

BY FRENCH MINI ©TRY’S DEFEAT

(United Press Association. —By Electrio Telegrapn.—Copyright.)

/ LONDON, Feb. 17

His Majesty, who during his absence at Saiidrmgnam, followed the Naval Conference more closely from daily reports leceived from London returned to London and gave an audience to Mr MacDonald at Buckingham Palace in order to receive a fuller a.count of the' most recent developments. Tonight the immediate future proceedings of the Conference we.e thrown out of gear by the sudden defeat o the Tardieu Government in France. When the details of tlie cause oi the defeat were received, it was discussed at the French headquarters. It is the opinion that the event at most will cause, a delay of a few days in carrying on the negotiations. The only French Minister at London to-night is >M. Leygues, who as soon as lie received tlie news, telephoned VI. Tardieu, who, speaking from his sick bed, instructed aim to remain at London at present and continue the work of the. French delegation As there is no French Ministry in being, M. Leygues will not at present lie able to carry on actual negotiations with the heads of other delegations. French circles agree it is .most probable that the whole affair will prove a storm in a tea cup, and that within a few days M. Tardieu will reconstruct the ministry and take one or two Ministers from tlie left, which he lias wanted to do for some time, and then carry on again. It is emphasised, however, that no changes in the Ministry that are practicable in the present Chamber are likely materially to alter the French memorandum setting out France’s Naval needs, which is a mere reproduction of a programme formulated originally several years ago, and which most Parties in the Chamber have approved. It is learned from a. trustworthy French source that there is not the least chance of a reduction in tlie programme unless some sort of Mediterranean security pact is obtainable.

FRANCE’S FIXED STAND

PARIS, Feb. 17

M. Tardieu, 'whose Ministry lias been defeated, and who is expected to be asked to form another, is being opposed by many members of the Chambers of Deputies on the ground that, as France has fixed the definite figure of her naval needs, the London Naval Conference, is of little importance to France, and they consider that M. Tardieu would be better occupied with the domestic problems.

JAPAN’S LIMIT

SEVENTY PER CENT. RATIO.

TOKI.O, Feb. 18. Admiral Kfito, Chief of ( the Naval General Staff, interviewed, stated Japan wants the powers to understand that her claim for a seventy per cent, ratio cannot menace the safety of other nations. This figure was computed strictly for defensive strategy. Tne fact that Japan claims thirty per cent, less than America should be sufficient proof that aggression across the Pacific was not eontempleted. An attack required superior force, and, speaking as a sailor, not as a diplomat, he was convinced that the 70 per cent, minimum was strictly defensive. America offered sixty per cent, which was inadequate. Even sixty-five per cent would not suffice for safety.

ITALY’S MEMORANDUM. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 18. In the absence of the chief French delegates, owing to the political crisis in Paris, little progress was made totay in the work of the London Naval Conference, but consultations between other delegations are proceeding, and this afternoon at the House of Commons Mr MacDonald met M. Grandi and Mr Stimson.

It is understood M. Grandi disclosed the contents of the Italian memorandum which will shortly be circulated to delegates, and published. When this document is before the Conference, the considered views of all delegations will be known and figures will lie available which will form the basis for determining the naval tonnage figures to be allotted to the different powers, in the various categories of ships for which a selection table has been preoared.

It is stated an Italian memorandum will re-affirm Italy’s original viewpoint of desiring the Conference to arrive at a limitation of naval armaments as low as possible, but will maintain Italy’s right to possess naval forces equal in tonnage to any other Continental Power. The note will, it is said, emphasise that as Italy wanted to eliminate all armament competition she has abstained since the Washington Conference from establishing any long term naval programme, believing that the world lias entered into a period of real limitation. Italy, since the Washington Conlerence has contented heise|f with building ships only to cover the immediate relative needs. The memorandum gives figures that show that in surface ships outside those limited by the Washington Conference, Italy possesses either on water or under construction roughly the same number as France.

CONFERENCE HOLD-UP. (Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 18. The Naval Conference is now neces- •*-

sarily marking time, until France is again officially represented, the defeat of the Tardieu Ministry compelling the abandonment of meetings in which she would otherwise have pavtieii»ated( notably (bo-day’s AngloAmerican parley. Nevertheless M. Grandi, Mr Stimson and Mr MacDonald will meet at the House of Commons, after which a statement of the Italian viewpoint may be expected. The British spokesman’s view !is that the events of the past few days afford food for reflection. Useful work can still he done because French experts still here continue to function unofficially, keeping abreast of the situation, though no Conference decisions can be taken till hranee once more is represented by a delegation. It is important to remember that half the ground is not actually lost because the French memorandum is still officially before the Conference, and is not affected bv the fate oi the Ministry which produced it. There can of course be no plenary session until France is again present in full power. It remains for the other delegations to continue such activities as are possible in the circumstances.