NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17979, 26 March 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

BATTLESHIP ISSUE.

STILL GREAT POSSIBILITIES. PLENARY SESSION SUGGESTED. (Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 24. The Times says: If the proposals forwarded to Japan and America are acceptable Ihe way would be open to I lie drawing up of a complete pad. Even at Hie present stage it is felt ■that it would lie possible to prepare a pact between America, Japan and Britain, which would accelerate the scrapping of battleships, as agreed upon at Ihe Washington Conference. Also if would make it possible to discontinue the replacement of battleships in tiie next live years, and thus prolong the life of existing ships; to defl'ne Ihe number of cruisers carrying 8-inch guns and cruisers carrying guns of smaller calibre; to limit the tonnage of destroyers and restrict the size- of submarines to 2000 tons and to regulate the use of the submarine in lime of war. By those means, says the Times, a great deal of good could come from tiie conference, even if a live Powers treaty is not found practicable. Some of the newspapers state that the delegations may have to decide soon whether tiie time has not come to summon a plenary session to review Iho whole position. Such a meeting would enable Britain, as Hie inviting Power, lo move proposals for disarmament, for it. is felt that the objects of the conference have been allowed to drift into the background. The French Minister of Marine, M. Dumesnil, lias returned to London, and llie Colonial Minister, M. Pietri, is due to-morrow. The King lias presented lo Ihe members of all the delegations an autographed gramophone record of 1 1 is speech at Hie opening of the conference on January 21. Each record is contained in a royal blue leather case hearing the Royal coat of arms.

LATER.

AN ITALIAN FBOPOSAL. gIX MONTHS’ ADJOURNMENT. NO BUILDING MEANWHILE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. —Copyright. (Deceived .March 20, 0.10 a.i11.) LONDON, March 25. Signor Grandi, during a meeting with Mr Ramsay MacDonald, suggested ihat the conference should adjourn for six months. In Hie meantime Italy would try to reach an amicable agreement, and each power should undertake for Hie time being not to start building any ships. The Daily Herald says Mr MacDonald is considering the proposal.

WORTH CONSIDERATION

THE ITALIAN SUGGESTION

MOMENTARILY PUT ASIDE. rnitßfl Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. —Copyright. (Received March '2O, 10 a.in.) LONDON, March 25. The British spokesman confirmed (lie report of the Italian proposal to adjourn the conference for six months to enable the French and Italians to attempt to compose their difficulties. Meanwhile a Three Power Pact should he considered. The spokesman gave an assurance that the proposal had been momentarily put aside because tlie experts were continuing their endeavour to find a solution on a Five power Basis. He admitted the Italian suggestion was worth while in certain circumstances.

Air 11. L. Slimson conferred with Mr MacDonald this morning and the heads of the delegations will meet I his afternoon lo examine the general situation in the light of experts’ discussions. It is assumed Unit M. Oumcsnil will represent France. SUCCESS OR FAILURE? DIVERGENT VIEWS. (Received March 20, 11.15 a.m.) VANCOUVER, -March 25. The official Government statement, expressing optimism concerning the outcome of the Naval Conference, was followed to-day by a statement from the chairman (Mr Fred- Britten), of the House Naval Committee, advocating the withdrawal of the United Stales’ delegation, and Warning the British Admiralty for what lie called the failure of the Conference.