CLARIFYING THE POSITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 79, 15 January 1936, Page 5

CLARIFYING THE POSITION.

FUTURE ACTION OF JAPANESE.

NOT YET DETERMINED

(Received This Dav, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 14

After the meeting of the American delegation to the Naval Conference, the British delegation was in touch with the other delegations.

The newspapers anticipate that with the meeting of the First Committee tomorrow the position, which has been somewhat obscure for several <lays, will be clarified, though it is not known whether Japanese participation in the future work* of the conference would be modified in character or not, or even interrupted. Informal exchanges "between the various delegations were conducted today in an atmosphere of great cordialty<

"NO RUPTURE BUT NO CONCESSION."

LONDON, January 14

The naval correspondent of "The Times" says the postponement of the Naval Conference indicates that Admiral Nagano is encountering difficulties in carrying out the latest instructions from Tokio, enjoining "no rupture but no concession," apparently meaning that the Japanese Government is still insisting on the common upper limit demand, without wishing to press for a-decision. The other delegations will ho perfectly willing to re-examine the Japanese demand, but only on the definite understanding that if it does not command assent it must this time be finally dropped and not revived.

"No concession" may well prove to be incompatible with "no rupture," unless the Japanese instructions' are further modified.

A CRITICAL STAGE REACHED.

QUESTION OF UPPER LIMIT. LONDON, January 13. A critical stage has been reached at the Naval Conference, and much importance is attached to the decision that is to be taken at the next meeting of the Conference, which will be held to-morrow. The Conference at its last meeting arranged to resume on Friday, but in view of the Japanese delegation's desire to return to its original proposal for common upper limits of total naval tonnage, a postponement until this evening was agreed upon. A further postponement until to-morrow was accepted at the request of the Japanese. It is understood tbat the postponement was sought by the Japanese delegation in order to offer suggestions providing for adjustments which would take into account variations in vulnerability and needs for naval defence of the various Powers.

The newspapers, commenting on the subject, agree that if the Japanese proposalis put to the vote, it will undoubtedly be rejected. They anticipate, however, that the other Powers will not force a vote, and that the Conference will again agree to reserve the common upper limit proposal for i further reflection and examination. • Fears that the Japanese might leave the Conference if the ; proposals were not accepted, which had been expressed in some papers, appear to have been allayed, and the expectation is that the search for an agreement will continue in the spirit of goodwill which has characterised the attitude of all obligations since the Conference opened.—British Official Wireless. DEVELOPMENT IN POSITION. ! COMMITTEE MEETING POSTPONED. LONDON, January 13. A meeting of the British and Japanese delegations this evening was arranged at the request of the Japanese, Mr Eden presiding. It resulted in a development. It is understood that the Japanese again stressed the

desire that discussion of a common upper limit be reopened at the next meeting of the Conference, and explained that there were points on which they required further information from Tokio. Accordingly the mooting of the first committee fixed for to-morrow again will be postponed indefinitely.