NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

HEADS STILL MEETING

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

(Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 1L a.m.)

RUGBY, April 8

Mr MacDonald had over two hours conversation with M. Briaiid at the House of Commons this afternoon on the political aspects of the Naval ConIference, which were the subject of a private discussion in London last week, and upon which M. Briand consulted his Government in Paris during the week. Other aspects of the Conference were discussed by delegates ami experts during the day at St. James’ Palace. Reservations were attached by the Japanese Government to their acceptance of the compromise tonnage proposals and such were agreed upon by the United States and Japanese delegations in .London, with the full concurrence of the British delegation were this morning examined by heads of delegations o.f the three powers concerned. Very satisfactory progress was made and it is understood only one subject is now outstanding. This will be further considered to-morrow.

The First Committee of the Conference met this afternoon under the Chairmanship of Frist Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Alexander. A communique states the committee considered the report of the committee of experts dealing with the unit size of submarines, and decided to forward a report with unanimous recommendations of the First Committee to the heads of delegations.

The report of the jurists committee on the legal aspects of submarine warfare, and after discussion unanimously adopted, and will also be forwarded to beads of delegations. The question of total abolition of submarines was examined by the First Committee but various delegations having expressed their views it was clear that no agreement could he reached on this point, and the committee with regret decided it was impossible to recommend abolition.

Passing to consideration of the unit size of submarines, an agreement was, after some discussion, reached. The French delegates supported by Japanese agreed with other powers represented to the recommendations of experts that the maximum unit tonnage of a submarine should be 2000, with a maximum, gun of 5 inches, but they asked for 3 submarines of 2800 tons each, armed with 6 inch guns, for a period of the convention which it is proposed should last until 1936. This was ultimately agreed to, each country being accorded a similar right to built not more than 3 such larger vessels, on condition that these super submarines are included in the total tonnage alloted for submarine category.

The most important of recommendations made by the committee was the endorsement of jurist report on measures for humanising submarine warfare. On his the committee decided to recommend for adoption by the plenary session of'a new form of declaration, to which all powers represented at the conference should adhere, and to which other powers not represented should be invited to give their formal assent:—

‘'The undersigned duly authorised to that effect on behalf of their respective Governments hereby make the following declaration, namely:— The following are accepted as established rules of intenational law.

Firstly, in their action with regard to merchant ships, submarines must conform to the rules of internationl law to which surface war vessels are subject. Secondly, in particular except in the case of persistent refusal to stop on being summoned, or of actual resistances to a visit or search, a warship whether a surface vessel or a submarine, may not sink or render incapable of navigation a merchant vessel without having first placed the passengers, crew and ship’s papers in a place of safety. For this purpose, the ships boats are not regard as a place of . safety, unless the safety of passengers and crew is assured in existing sea and weather conditions by the proximity of land or presence of other vessels.” , At the conclusion of the conference between Mr MacDonald and Mr Briand a communique issued states “M Briand informed Mr MacDonald of the result of conversations which he had in Parts and on his side Mr stated the results of discussion tab en place in the meantine in London.”

Tt is understood the discussions will be continued to-morrow. In common with the MacDonald Government, they were still working to secure a fve power agreement.

AGREE IN PRINCIPLE

LONDON, April 8

It is officially explained that the true definition of the past ten days Anglo-French discussion is the drawing up of an agreed statement defining sanction clauses of the Covenant. No actual formula has either been accepted or rejected, by Paris, but Britain and France practically agreed in principle.