Down to Business

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 883, 29 January 1930, Page 9

Down to Business

Naval Discussions Continue DELEGATES CHAFE AT DELAY FULL SESSION TOMORROW MANY of the delegates to the Five Power Naval Conference in London are disappointed at the delay in getting down to the practical work of naval discussions. France and Italy, by their continued disagreement over fleet parity, are reported as the cause of some of this delay. America’s aspirations, as outlined by its delegate, Mr. 11. L. Stimson, are toward the abolition of the submarine, or alternatively a drastic cut in battleship construction, which would save the States millions of pounds. A plenary session of the conference is called for tomorrow.

United P. A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The American delegates to the conference make no attempt to disguise their impatience. There is no longer any doubt that the rivalry between Prance and Italy is delaying progress. Prance was quite agreeable to parity with Italy at Washington in 1921, but nows says this was with a democratic Italy, not with Signor Mussolini’s Italy, which is marked by incessant militarist and a.nti-French propaganda. It is significant that naval writers sire increasingly calling attention to Germany’s “pocket battleship,” Ersatz Preussen. Among the questions which emerged to justify the constitution of the .Standing Agenda Committee, the most prominent is that of finding a formula l’or the discussion, on global and categorical tonnages. It is revealed that this was the troublesome thread constantly crossing and recrossing the whole week’s discussions. It is suggested that once it is brought into proper relations with the other problems, more headway will be made. Prom the frequency of private meetings, at which the French and Italians participated, particular interest centres on M. Tardieu’s and Signor Grandi’s speeches on Thursday, though the British spokesman hinted that the plenary proceedings would probably largely relieve the Press officers of the daily duty of denying conjectures. ITALY’S POSITION It is learned that Britain expected greater headway on the agenda, indeed, all the Dominion delegates were twice summoned on Monday but countermanded at the last minute. It is explained that all the Dominions want seats on the Agenda Committee, but they will probably be given one to be used in rotation as an observer. For the rest the Japanese will see Mr. MacDonald at 4.30 p.m. and the French at 5.30 p.m. M. Tardieu says the plenary session will first consider France’s plan of global tonnage, with categories adjustable to national needs. After that Britain’s category proposal will be discussed, and thirdly, Italy's suggestion to allocate a definite tonnage to each nation. Signor Grandi, Italy, has intimated that this is a general principle to which Italy is not committed absolutely. JAPAN WANTS SECURITY Mr. R. Watatsuki, Japan, broadcast a speech to America in which he declared: —“Japan is content with an inferior naval strength to either Britain or America. Our only solicitude is the national security, for which we seek a minimum of force in the units, which, while insufficient for offeusive operations, will he adequate to safeguard our home waters, which extend from the tropic to the frigid zones; and our trade routs, which are vital to our existence.” The announcement of the Admiralty that the orders for the construction of the cruisers Surrey and Northumberland have been cancelled will mean a saving of £542,000 in the cur- | rent. financial year, plus about £2,000,000 in 1930-31. AMERICA’S AIMS ABOLITION OF SUBMARINES STIMSON SEEKS NAVY CUT LONDON, Tuesday, i Broadcasting to America from station 2LO, Mr. H. L. Stimson mentioned, among the aims of the conleience, the abolition of the submarines, if that is impossible, he said, then he wished to see a reduction in numbers and the prevention ot their use against merchantmen in a ruthless and inhuman manner, as m the lust WftL , . An agreement to reduce battleships would be the greatest contribution to international goodwill. Such a reduction would relieve the United States in the next six years of spending £75,000,000 on battleships, and probably the same amount in the following six years. “We have confidence in each other s determination to make a long step forward in human progress and international goodwill,” he said. Mr Stimson asked Americans to be untroubled at the reports of crises cabled by journalists. All these reports were unfounded. There was no crisis; only friendly goodwill. “We think we can make the conference a success, he added. PARITY WITH BRITAIN Mr. Stimson added: —“Parity between Great Britain and Ameiica is not the doctrine of naval rivalry; rather it is a slogan of mutual confidence, as well as a means of mutual disarmament. We in America know that so long as parity is maintained we can safely reduce our navy down as far as Great Britain will reduce hers. Mr. MacDonald’s announcement in Washington last October that Great Britain had agreed to this policy of naval parity with America did more to relieve the feeling ot anxiety and irritation which had followed the failure of the Naval Conference in Geneva in 1927 than any other single event." A Washington message says the week's discussion of naval problems in London lias convinced the officials there that there is no possibility of obtaining more than a six years’ “trial agreement” upon the limitation of reduction of naval programmes. A. recognition of that situation is

judged to have greatly reduced the problems of delegates, because it involves a review of the undertakings which, by 1936, may conceivably have become onerous. SIZE OF BATTLESHIPS POWERS ARGUE FOR BASIS FRANCE AND ITALY OPPOSED LONDON, Tuesday. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the indications are when the battleship question arises at the Naval Conference the American delegates will he inclined to favour a limitation of the discussion to the non-replacement, of obsolete vessels pending the 1936 conference. Apparently they consider that if reductions iu size and number and gun-power are discussed at present serious difficulties and dangers may arise. For example, if America, Britain and Japan were to reduce the maximum size of their battleships from 35,000 tons to 25,000 tons they would lose 10,000 tons on each capital ship replaced. On the other hand, France and Italy, which probably would not agree to proportional reductions, would retain their full battleship quotas unchanged. Again, a decrease in the size of battleships might enable more vessels of that class to enter and be docked at certain naval bases in the Pacific which hitherto have not been available for 35,000-ton ships. This would alter the strategic position in regard to such bases as established hy the 1922 treaty. Lastly, says the correspondent, there may lurk in the American mind ail apprehension of fresh difficulties with Japan. The Japanese say they only accepted the 60 per cent, ratio for battleships at Washington on condition that America refrained from fully fortifying certain naval bases. Should the status of the Pacific fortifications be altered Japan would claim a 70 per cent, ratio in battleships, as ivell as cruisers. PLENARY SESSION TOMORROW PRESS TO BE ADMITTED

EXPERTS NEGOTIATING British Official "Wireless Reed. 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. The heads of the five delegations to the Naval Conference decided that enough ground had been cleared in the -course of their discussions and private conversations to justify calling a plenary session. As the British Cabinet Council is held 'weekly on Wednesday mornings, it was decided to meet the convenience of the British delegates by holding the session on Thursday at St. James’s Palace. As many representatives of the Press as can will be accommodated. Probably about 80 ■will be admitted to the conference room, and it is expected that the proceedings will be made audible to others in an adjoining room by means of microphones and loud-speakers. It is understood this morning’s meeting agreed to the agenda, al though the order in which the items figure on it is liable to be changed by the course of the discussions. A sub-committee, which will act as the “steering committee,” was set up to regulate the agenda as required.

It is now stated that the size of the room precluded the provision of more than 7S press seats. These are being allotted to Britain and the Dominions 12 each, the United States and France 12 each, Japan 11, Italy 6, and other nationalities the remaining 13. Arrangements have been made to have the whole proceedings broadcast. While outwardly the progress so far made at the conference appears to be slight, the general impression of delegates and experts is that matters are shaping themselves satisfactorily. This evening the Japanese and British Commonwealth delegates discussed questions of mutual interest, and referred certain points to the experts for report. An official communique states the French and British Commonwealth delegations met this evening and considered a report from the experts on matters connected with the methods of limitation of naval armaments. It was agreed that a stage had been reached at which conversations with the other delegations on the samepoints might usefully be undertaken THE SOCIAL ROUND WIVES ENTERTAINED IN STATELY HOMES Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday.

Loudon has acquired a new season which might be called the conference season. The West End is more cosmopolitan than ever, especially at luncheon ti ne. The wives of American, Italian, French and Japanese delegates are almost overwhelmed with invitations for the evenings, many of which take them into stately homes and historic houses never before seen by American visitors.

Ine international cable news appearing in this issue Us published by arrangement with the Australian Press Association end the “Sun”- "Herald News Service. Limlt€d By 6peclaJ arrangement, Reuters vrorld service. 5n addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation o? the oversea intelligence published in this issue aid all rights therein In Australia and New slealand are reserved. Such of tne cable news on thTs page as is so headed! has appeared in "The Times’* and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opintons tire not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.