NAVAL TALKS AGAIN POSTPONED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 94, 15 January 1936, Page 9

NAVAL TALKS AGAIN POSTPONED

Critical Stage Reached JAPANESE AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS (Press Assn. Cable and British Oliicial Wireless.) (Received January 14, 1.10 p.m.) Rugby, January 13. A critical stage has been reached in the London Naval Conference, md much importance is attached to the decision which is to be taken at the next meeting of the conference. The conference, at its last meeting on ■Wednesday, arranged to resume on Friday, but, in view of the Japanese delegation’s desire to return to their original proposal for common upper limits of total naval tonnage, a postponement until this evening was agreed upon. A meeting of the English and Japanese delegations was held this evening as arranged at the request of the Japanese, Mr. Anthony Eden presiding, and resulted in a fresh (level opment. It is understood that the Japanese again stressed their desire for the discussion on the common upper limit to be reopened at the next meeting of the conference. They explained that there were points on which they required further information from Tokio. Accordingly to-mor-row the meeting of the first committee will again be postponed indefinitely.

Vote May Not Be Taken.

Japan’s proposal for a common upper limit was discussed at length at early meetings of the conference when it was put forward as an alternative to the ratios of naval strength included ip the Washington and London Treaties which expire at the end of the current year. It is understood that the postponement had been sought by the Japanese delegation in order to offer suggestions providing for adjustments which would take into account variations in the vulnerability and the needs tor naval defence of the various Bowers. Newspapers commenting on the subject agree that if the -Japanese proposal were put to the vote it would undoubtedly be rejected and. in that case, there would seem little doubt that the Japanese delegation would cease to take full part in the conference. They anticipate, however, that the other Powers will not force the vote and that the conference will again agree to reserve the common upper limit proposal for further reflection and examination. Tills would clear the way for tlie Five-Power Conference to proceed with the problem of qualitative limitation.

No Rupture—No Concession.

The naval correspondent of "The Times” says t'hat the postponement indicates that Admiral Nagano is encountering difficulties in carrying out Tokio’s latest instructions enjoining “no rupture but no concession,” apparently meaning that the Tokio Government is still insisting on its common upper limit demand but without Dressing the question to a decision. Other delegations are perfectly willing to reexamine the Japanese demand, but only on it definite understanding that if it does not command assent it must this time finally be dropped and not revived. “No concession” may well prove to be incompatible with “no rupture” unless Japanese instructions are further modified.