NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1930, Page 3

NAVAL CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE ADJOURNED.

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, Feb. 19

The Naval Conte. eiue communique issue.! to-night staLes as a result of a consultation between, heads of all delegations now in London, it has been oe.ided the Conl'eience shall stand adjourned until Wednesday next. Aleanwhile, the Expert Committee, set up hv the First Committee, will complete the work upon which it is now engag-

’i ne adjournment is of course a sequel -o the French political crisis, which involves the a.i,seine from the Conference of leaders' of the French delegation. It is iii.-de stood the French Ambassador in London was consulted upon and concurred in the proposal to adjourn.

French experts are collaborating in the work upon which the Expert committee is now engaged, namely, the allieaiiivn of so-called speed vessels to the category or exempt classes. The Committee will, however, not take up the e..animation of me submarine quest on til! France is again fully represented at the Conferen e. Leading members of oilier delegations are remaining 'in London during the week’s “naval holiday,” and wid be in -informal contact.

The Italian naval delegation to-day presented : a statement to other delegations. It sets forth- Italy’s willingness as the limit-, for her armaments, any figures, no matter how low, proviV.e.d it is not execeeded by any other European Continental power. The Italian delegation' considers the existing conditions- of- security resulting from the international acts of such wide scope as the League Covenant, L cm no Treaty and Briand-Kel-logg Pact justify that downward limitation, which public opinion in all oumries demands.

The Italian delegation propose trie postponement oY building capital ships authorised during the next six years by the Washington Treaty, and are prepared to consider the abolition of capital ships. They are prepared also to undertake not to exceed the tonnage figures of the strongest European Continental Powers in aircrat carriers, and classes of vessels not already covered by the Washington Treaty and submarines. They would examine favourably any general agreement to abolish submarines and capital ships and to consider more extensively the question of limitation should the Conference reach the actual reduction based on th# agreed ratios of strength.