NO AGREEMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 9

NO AGREEMENT

ARMS PROBLEM.

EXPERT COMMITTEE. Powers Differ on Technical Issues. SHIPS AND AEROPLANES. (British Official Wireless.) (Keeeived 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 27. The Xaval Commission of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva to-day approved the report of the Expert Committee which has been considering whether naval armaments are most specifically offensive, or most efficacious against national defence, or most threatening to civilisation.

The report is inconclusive, and merely records the- divergence of views of the different naval Powers on the question of capital ships, aircraft carriers and the submarine.

The date of the meeting of the General Committee at which the report will he discussed has not yet been fixed. Reports from Geneva suggest that further (onversations between heads of the Governments of the principal European Powers concerned and the United States (blegate, Mr. Hugh Gibson, will precede tie meeting with a view to reaching agreement. Reports state "that it may bo found convenient to hold such meetings between the various States immediately lieiore the opening of the Lausanne C'oifcrence.

Ihe Air Committee had a further session at Geneva to-day, but so far mo agreement lias been reached as to the definition of offensive aircraft.

Tie Belgian delegate suggested that nerojlanes capable of bombing should be regarded as offensive and that aeroplanes weighing 1500 kilogrammes, or with an engine of 550 h.p. or over, shouli come into the same category.