Humanising War

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 943, 9 April 1930, Page 9

Humanising War

PARADOX OF NAVAL PARLEY

Submarine Restrictions

POWERS STRIVE FOR AGREEMENT

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright lieceived 11.55 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. THE most important of the recommendations made by the First Committee of the London Naval Conference was the endorsement of the jurists’ report on measures for humanising submarine warfare. On this subject the committee decided to recommend for adoption by a plenary session a new form of declaration to which all Powers represented at the conference should adhere, and to which other Powers not represented should he invited to give their formal assent.

The declaration proposed is as follows: —“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 international law; “First, in their action with regard to merchant ships, submarines must conform to the rules of international law to. which surface war vessels are subject. “Secondly, in particular, except in the case of persistent refusal to stop on being duly summoned or of active resistance to a visit of 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 ship’s boats are not regarded as a place of safety unless the safety of the passengers and crew is assured in the. existing sea and weather conditions by the proximity of land or the presence of another vessel.” EXPERTS AGREED A communique states the first committee considered the report of the committee of experts dealing with the unit size of submarines and decided to forward the report, with the unanimous recommendations of the first committee, to the heads of the delegations. The report of the jurists’ committee on the legal aspects of submarine warfare was, after discussion, unanimously adopted, and will also be forwarded to the heads of delegations. The question of the total abolition of submarines was examined by the first committee, hut various delegations having expressed their views, it was clear that no agreement could be reached on this point and the committee. with regret, decided it was impossible to recommend their abolition. Passing to a consideration of the unit size of submarines, an agreement was reached. The French delegates, supported by the' Japanese, agreed with the other Powers repre-

sented to the recommendations of the experts that the maximum unit tonnage of the submarine should be 2,000 tons, with a maximum gun of 5 inches, but they asked for three submarines of 2,800 tons, each armed with six-inch guns for the 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 build not more than three such larger vessels on condition that these super-submarines are included in the total tonnage allotted for the submarine category. POLITICAL SIDE The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, had over two hours’ conversation with M. Briand at the House of Commons this afternoon on the political aspects of the Naval Conference, 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-end. Other aspects of the conference were discussed by delegates and experts during the day at St. James’s Palace. The reservations attached by the Japanese Government to its acceptance of the compromise tonnage proposals, which 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 the heads of delegations of the three Powers concerned. Very unsatisfactory progress was made, and it is understood only one subject is now outstanding. This will be further considered tomorrow. At the conclusion of the conversation between Mr. MacDonald and M. Briand, a communique issued states: “M. Briand informed Mr. MacDonald of the result of conversations he had had in Paris, and on his side Mr. MacDonald stated the results of discussions which had taken place in the meantime in London.” It is understood the discussions will be continued tomorrow. In the Commons Mr. MacDonald said the Government was still working to secure a five-Power agreement.