NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 15

NAVAL CONFERENCE.

FRANCE'S POSITION. STATEMENT BY M. TARDIEU. (CWITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION—B* EI.«CT*tC TELBORAPH —COPYBIGHT.)

(Received February 14th, 7.45 p.m.)

LONDON, February 13

M. Tardieu, in a statement to Pressmen, said that France shared the Anglo-American desire for an agreement, but considered it necessary to specify her position. Thus France, compared with pre-war, had considerably reduced her Navy. Whereas in 1914 she had in service, plus thoße laid down, 1139 warships, she now had in service, building, or authorised 681, France's naval budget alone among the Powers was below pre-war. France, like Britain, without waiting for the result of the Conference, had considerably cut down her building programme. It "should be also pointed out that France alone had not built anything between 1914-20, her dockyards then being occupied in making ammunitions for the Allies. If, as proposed in the Anglo-American communiques, the Conference delegates were to take as the ground for an agreement the establishment building programmes for 19301936, France would accept this with the double reservation that all Conference delegates accept it and that the French Parliament ratifies it. The French fleet tonnages in 1936 would thus be: — Capital ships under the Washington Treaty 156, not under the Washington Treaty 52. Cruisers—lo,ooo-toiiners, 100; old cruisers, armed with Bin guns, 24; small cruisers and destroyers 258. Aircraft carriers 32. Submarines 99. A total of 724. The size of the capital ships under such an agreement would, be between 20,000 and 25,000 tons. The statement proceeds: "France has not used her Washington Treaty rights to the extent of replacement of 70,000 tons, but is now obliged, owing to other new types, to build accordingly. If there is a battleship naval 'holiday' till 1936, France will accept the 'holiday' to the extent of 105. She desires to reinsist that any London naval decision must be related to the limitation of land and air armaments.

"France, like England and America, was profoundly- convinced that war between France and either Britain or America is as equally unthinkable as between England and America. Her programme, like theirs, is strictly defensive in conformity with agreements to which she is a party, particularly the Kellogg Pact. Thus France will not be alarmed if England and America either reduce or increase their armaments in order to reach the desired agreement."

COMPARISON OF TONNAGES.

(Received February 14th, 7.45 p.m.)

LONDON", February 13. The following' is a comparison of 1914 and 1930 naval tonnages:—

COMMENTS ON FRENCH

STATEMENT.

SOME INTERESTING POINTS. . (Received February 14th, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, February 13. There was a big attendance of journalists at M. Tardieu's first palace Press conference this afternoon. He caused amusement by having a special chair brought in, whereas Mr Mac Donald usually sits at the end of his desk, or leans against the wall. M. Tardieu read his statement in rapid French, ftnd then added in French, "no questions asked, no questions answered," arid disappeared into the next room' almost before the journalists realised that he had gone. They had many questions, but were left to make their own interpretations of the statement, which is regarded as one of the most interesting thus far, and certainly describable "as the most ambitious.

While it proposes to scrap several old ships, a considerable building programme is outlined, which includes 240,000 tons between 1930 and 1936. A significant paragraph in this respect was that France was obliged, owing to .a recent new type of battleship, to build 70,000 tons of capital ships before 1936. It is understood that this is because of Germany's new Ersatz Preussen type. It is revealed that France, while she at present has 550,000 tons less capital ships than 1914, has not "reduced cruisers or destroyers, . and has increased aircraft earners by 32,000 tons, and submarines by 62,000; Furthermore, even if an. agreement is reached on the basis of the Anglo-American communiques, France's navy in 1936, totalling 724,000 tons, would, on her own formula, include the formidable figures of 93,000 tons of submarines and 258,000 tons of small cruisers and destroyers.

Another interesting point is ; that France, according .to her own . table, seeks 681,000 tons in 1930,. against Italy's 361,000, whereas Italy made it clear that she camo to the Conference seeking parity with France. Italy is now the only Power which has not submitted a statement, and one from her is being eagerly awaited.

THE DAY'S CHIEF EVENT.

DISCUSSION OF CATEGORIES

(Received February 14th. 11.50 a.m.)

LONDON, February 13

The British spokesman said that tho chief event to-day was the meeting between Mr Ramsay Mac-Donald, Mr H. L Stimson, and M. Tardieu at the House of Commons with the object ol getting down to figures in the blank table of categories. All figures should •be viewed with reserve, because actually none existed. Their preparation' was the real task on which the heads of the delegations and the experts were at present engaged, and would facilitate the work of the Conference. The Japanese statement was in the possession of Mr Mac Donald last night, and was probably in the hands of other heads of delegations, but so far there has been no discussion on the scrapping of battleships. The seeming obscurity in the measurements of those were entirely due to the existence of two methods of computation. There had befen no change in the actualities; of ships, and it was only an apparent difference in figures with which the experts dealt. Mr Mac Donald, Mr Stimson, and M. Tardieu also discussed the general position • between the three countries. The experts' committee in the morning. disouseedwnallunolassifi&dvesselß,.

and had not yet reached submarines. There was little possibility of holding a plenary session this week.

JAPANESE REQUIREMENTS.

EIGHT-INCH GUN CRUISER.

(BRITISH OmcIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, Bebruary 13. The Japanese delegation to-night issued a memorandum setting forth its; views in the light of the recent discussion. The memorandum expresses Japan's desire to find a formula harmonising the global and category theories, and her willingness to agree to the proposal that no more ships shall, be laid down before 1936.- Shel agrees that battleships should be reduced from 35,000 to 25,000 tons, with a maximum - gun calibM of 14 inches, and also favours an increase in their age limit, from 20 to 28 years. As regards aircraft-carriers, she proposes that all such, vessels, no matter of what tonnage, shall be subject to. limitation. The limitation imposed by the Washington Treaty applied only to aircraft-carriers of over 10,000 tons. The age limit of these vessels when over 10,000 tons she proposed to increase from 20 to 26 years, that for all •other types being 20 years. Japan attaches great importance to the Bin-gun cruiser,, and needs a. number of. such vessels for her own protection, but is willing to reduce this according to the number possessed by the other nations. Flotilla-leaders and destroyers should also be . limited. The. age lunit for cruisers should be 20 years, and that for destroyers 16 years. ? "' 5 Regarding submarines,-Japan Will co-operate with the* other Powers in strictly regulating their use against merchant vessels. She favours a level of 78.000 tons, limiting the size of these craft,*and fixing their age. at 13 years.

SEVENTY PER CENT. RATIO. THE JAPANESE DEMAND.

(UNITED . PBKSS ASSOCIATION—BY . KLBOTBIC TELEGRAPH—COPSBIGHT.)

LONDON, February 13,

The Japanese spokesman, officially reaffirming Japan's attitude in insisting on the*7o per 6ent. ratio for air craft except battleships and aircraft-carriers, saicj. that while his country was determined to contribute her full share to securing all-round reduction, she desired to maintain sufficient -force .to ensure her safety. Too strict an ' application of - either global or categorical principles would not tend ; to agreement among the' Powers. Japan favoured., a "formula harmonising both extremes and permitting transfers in certain categories. . She proposed >to retain her, present submarine strength. ANOTHER AMERICA* SUGGESTION.

LONDON, February 13.

The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic contributor understands that with , the view to persuading Japan to abate her 70 per cent, ratio demand, the American delegation has been considering the naval neutralisation of the Philippines. He learnß also that Mr Ramsay MacDonald has acquainted the Americans with the British Government's unfavourable view of t.he United States siiper-Eodney suggestion.

EXPERTS AT WORK

(BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, -.February 13. At tlie Naval. Conference to-day the proceedings included a series, of private talks among the delegates, among these being a conversation among M. Tardieu (French Prime Minister), Mr Hugh Gibson (U.S.A.), and Mr Ramsav Mac Donald, in the private room of the last-named in the House of Commons. The experts have now before them the document .which constitutes .the framework of the compromise proposals on the alternative methods • for the limitation of naval armaments. The actual figures of the requirements by the different Powers are now i being produced, and progress is being made. The experts have to-day been considering the so-called special vessels, which do not naturally fall into categories, taking as . the basis of their work the document regarding such craft upon which a provisional agreement was reached at the 1927 Geneva Conference.

FRENCH PRESS CRITICISM

(Received February 14th, 5.5 p.m.)

PARIS, February 13

The Press generally approves of the delegations' activities, but "Le Matin" asks: Against whom are they arm-; ing ? The answer is that former Allies; were measuring their strength against one another as possible enemies. What, then, happens to the League of Nations? It is for France to raise the question. If the public regards the! Conference with r 'sc<ebticism and lassitude, it is, because. that the real problems have not been treated* .. ... [

1914. 1930. Tons. Tone. Britain . 2,476,000 1,296,000 United States . 964,000 1,349,000 Japan 646,000 853,000 Italy .. 686,000 36Q,000 France . 1,139,000 681,000