NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19852, 13 February 1930, Page 11

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

THE NEXT TASK.

WORK ON TONNAGE PROBLEM. (UNITED I'R.ESS association—by electric TELEGKAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 12th, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 12.

With the submarine issue temporarily put in the background, the Naval Conference will next tackle the tonnage puzzle, on which British quarters suggest a, virtual bridging of the conflictiug Irench, English, and American theses. On this point the British spokesman last evening allowed it to be known that there is just the possibility of another plenary session being held at the end of the week to deal with the global-category tonnage question, on which the Committee of Experts will report to-day. If it is held, it will be with the object of announcing substantial agreement upon a compromise between the rival theses.

On the other hand, tho Japanese spokesman foreshadowed an early Japanese statement reiterating a rigid adherence to claims for 78,000 tons of submarines and a 70 per cent, ratio of cruisers with Britain and America. He naively romarked that the question of submarines' radius of action would not enter into the question because Japan, in the Great War, was asked to convoy ships from Australia, and she also escorted troopships in the Mediterranean. All this rigidity may soften when bargaining begins on categories. Perhaps, too, America's claim to have a monster battleship may be modified in the same way, especially since it has been generally greeted, even among the Americans, as a very costly and tactless negation of the very spirit of disarmament. The suggestion has not alarmed the British Government circles, where it was apparently received with an air of quiet resignation, but there are hints that the Admiralty can muster strong arguments on the futility of beginning the big ship competition anew.

RESTRICTIONS ON SUBMARINES.

AMERICAN DELEGATE SATISFIED

(Received February 12th, 8.5 p.m.)

LONDON, February 12.

Mr H. L. Stimson, in a statement to the Press concerning the plenary session, emphasised that there had been a definite decision, not a tentative one, whereby the five Powers had agreed to restrict the use of submarines against merchant ships to the same rules that were applied to surface vessels.

"This single incident was worth the visit of the American delegation to London, and marks a step in the matter which our country once went to war about," he said. "I think the debnte also showed a rising tide on the part of the nations for the eventual nbolition of undersea craft. The happiest augury was that the motion to restrict the use of submarines, came from the French delegations."

FRENCH NAVAL REQUIREMENTS

(Received February T2th. 11.55 p.m.)

LONDON. February 12

M. Tardieu and M. Briand last night explained to Messrs .Mac Donald and Alexander the requirements of the French Navy in the matter of global tonnage It was understood that France was readv to pledge herself not to exceed 724,000 tons. It was recalled that the Anglo-American figure was 2,200,000 tons.

AMERICA'S BATTLESHIP DEMAND.

ATMOSPHERE OF CONFERENCE CHANGED.

LONDON, February 10

It is no exaggeration to say that the leakage of information that America is insisting in the name of parity on the right to build a battleship equivalent to H.M.S. Rodney has changed the whole atmosphere of the Conference, compared with last week. The manner in which the proposal was made has even added a feeling of disunity. . . n The American delegation officially refuse to admit or to d©ny that such a demand was ever made. Unofficially, however, it is indisputable that the demand was included in Mr H. L. Stimson's Note, issued last week, but was expunged from the summary that was issued to the Press. It was upon the latter precis that the hones of a virtual Anglo-American agreement were based, whereas the truth now seems to be that the States,_ in the name of disarmament, is claiming the right to build the world's most powerful battleship. American correspondents have not hesitated to state bluntlv in dispatches to their journals that this is a fact. They even go so far as to say that Mr Mac Donald's statement in the House of Commons to-day was made with his tongue in his cheek. They then suggest that the demand will not give satisfaction to Government supporters, either at Washington or at Westmmster. American writers point out that though the advocates of a big navy at Washington create a big noise in the Press, they are in no way equal in actual voting strength to the advocates of economy, who look askance at the proposal to mulct the Ui)itea States in the immediate expenditure of several millions sterling for a new large battleship in the interests _of naritv at a Conference ostensibly aimins to abolish paval competition and to rod lice expenditure. The Washington correspondent of "The Times" states that Departmental officials have no knowledge of the proposals made by their delegation in London that the United States should be permitted to build a battleship of the Rodney tvpe. The State Department points out that such a move would entirely conflict with the American policy of limitation and reduction.

GREECE TO SCRAP BATTLESHIPS

ATHENS, February 11

Greece wants peace, especially with Turkey, said M. Venizelos in a naval debate in Parliament. Greece's ancient policy of expansion in the Aegean, involving war against Turkey was n° longer justified, he said. She is reconciled, to her existing trontiers and sought only to establish prosperity within her borders. .. Therefore, said M Venizelos, tiio Government proposed to scrap battleships and confine Greek naval defence to lighter vessels This policy & lso applied to the Air Force. He was convinced that Turkey's policv was pacific. Ismet Pasha told' him that Turkey would not take Western Thrace a# a gift.