NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

CONVERSATIONS IMPEDED

(British Oriieiai Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10 a.m.> RUGBY, April 9. To-dnv’s conversations between the Naval delegates, arranged in the hope that the chances of a Five-Power Agreement might- thereby be reviewed, were somewhat impeded by the illness of Signor Grandi. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Sec-

retary (Mr A. Henderson) had a long

meeting with the Italian Ambassador, Signorßordonaro and Signor Rossi. In the course of the day and this evening French a’nd United Kingdom delegations also met. After the latter meeting, which was held in the Prime Minister’s room atthe House of Commons, a brief communique was announced that the development of the conversations of the last 24 hours had been examined, and that a further meeting would take place to-morrow. It is understood that this meeting dealt mainly with statistics as,did also he conversation earlier in the day between Mr A. V. Alexander and M. Dumesnil, the heads respectivelv of the British and French admiralties.

Meanwhile progress was being made with other spheres of the Conference work.

British, American mid Japanese experts, who have been examining the reservations of the Japanese Government to tiie proposals sent to Tokyo as part .of the political Five-Power Pact, reached a general agreement on most points at the meeting to-day, and will to-morrow deal with one or two matters still outstanding. The special sub-Ccimmi.ttce appointed to consider the question of aircraft carriers also met to-day under the of Mr A. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty). It was agreed if that the general term of aircraft carrier, for the purposes of present agreement, should comprehend nrstly, aircraft carriers of over 10,000 tons standard displacement, as defined in the Treaty between United States, British Empire, France, Italy and Japan, limiting naval armaments, signed at Washington on February 6th. 1922; and secondly other surface vessels of war of standard displacement not exceeding 10,000 tons designed, for specific and exclusive purposes of conveying aircraft, and so constructed that aircraft can be launched therefrom and landed thereon. Such vessels shall not carry guns with calibre in excess of six inches. These vessels will .go into the aircraft category, while all other vessels, built to carry aeroplanes, or seaplanes, are to be charged against an appropriate combatant category, according to size and armaments. Replying to questions, in the House of Commons, Mr A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary) said -he hoped to be able to make a 'statement regarding the progress of negotiations with the Soviet Ambassador in the near futuye.