NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

FRANCE’S TERMS

FOR NAVAL CUT

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON,

March 10,'

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says. M. Briand’s (French Foreign Minister’s) coin ersa tjons with Mr Ramsay MacDonald and with the American delegates during the week-end have again revived, although less direety the question ol whether Britain, as a condition to a reduction of France’s naval buildings, shall enter into further war commitments for the defence of French security. France will not be content with mere undertaking of the five powers to take,counsel together in the event of a threat or war. M. Briand wishes them to declare war unthinkable as between any of their number., He also requires them to bind themselves that, shoud war become imminent, they will concert measures, including coercive . measures, for the prevention of such conflict.

The Telegraph’s correspondent is of the. opinion that it may be safely assumed that : any further war commitments will be opposed to the uttermost by the British Dominions, and assures that without Dominion co-oper-ation Britain could not enter any such treaty without grave risks in the event of war, to the United Empire.

FRANCE’S ATTITUDE,

LONDON, March 9

M. Briand( French Foreign Minister) was entertained at lunch at f bequers Court by the 'Prime Minister, ister (Right Hon. A. Henderson.) Other guests included the foreign secertarv Craigie of foreign office; M. Massagli, a member of the French Delegation and Captain Bellaif of the Admiralty. On his return, M. Briand said that the conversations had been so tentative that it would be useless to say what they were. He added however that he had re-affirmed the French position and that the conversations had been political. ~

REPORT OF HAPPENINGS

(Received this dav at, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 10

A communique states: ‘‘Heads and other members of United States, French British and Belgian delegation held a „conversation at St. James in the forenoon. Certain technical questions were fonnd to roonire exploration. The French Minister of Marine and First Lord of the Admiralty accompanied by a technical adviser with American dbserYers were, asked to consider these immediately and report as soon as possible. In order to give time for a continuous prosecution of this inquiry Italians’ and Japanese gave assent a postponement of the meeting of heads of delegations fixed for three in the afternoon till Tuesday. A further meeting* of the three delegations will be held on Wednesday at 3 o’clock or earlier, if the technical report is ready.” The Britlikh spokesman explaining

the Cominufnique assured pressmen ' that the political question of the guarantee did not arise. Instead amat ter rtf Anglo-French tonnage totals had been taken up in the hope of getting down to bedrock with a view to fitting them into the category table. The . presence of figures and of American observers throws into perspective the course of the Conference which is tackling Anglo-French figures. The first part of the morning’s discussion concerned British, Japanese and American figures, which have now been put aside; very satisfactory progress having been made in this quarter.

Nothing definite has been- decided nor would it be unti the whole Fvc Power treaty falls into place. Americans are looking on helpfully while .British and French figures are being discussed because the ultimate settlement in European figures must control the whole settlement of British, Japanese and American totals. Allusion to . satisfactory progress with British,. Japanese and American figures is understood to refer '» to a complete agreement that United States and Japan should have a ratio of fifteen—twelve in large cruisers leaving more tonnage to build smaller ships. Incidentally America comes down to Britain’s idea to be satisfied with fifteen, ten thousand tonners.