FIVE-POWER CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20428, 8 March 1930, Page 14

FIVE-POWER CONFERENCE

FRENCH DELEGATES ARRIVE.

FULL RESUMPTION OF CONFERENCE.

LONDON, March 6. ~ With the,arrival of the French dele* gationj; apart from M. djardieu, who has gone to tho flood areas to organise relief,’ everything is ready .for full resumption of ±he conference, meetings to-morrow. . : /

Mr Ramsay MacDonald conferred with M., Briand to-night. . The most important .event to-day bearing on the. conference was the publication of the British ■ naval estimates. The naval correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ points out that for the first time on .record the Adlniralty will begin the financial year without authority to lay down a single ship of any description. This unprecedented step has been taken because* the Government decided not to formulate a programme till it knows > the Result of the conference. Even more important than the cessation of shipbuilding is the .reduction of the personnel, which seems to presuppose a shrinkage of the fleet, 1 which at the present stage of the conference is.hardly .warranted in the British Navy, as at the present .moment there are only' thirteen capital shins in full commission on the'Basis of instant readi. ._s for action," which is believed to he the lowest in our "history as a great naval Power. Referring to' Singapore, the correspondent says that -the. Government,after reviewing the situation, presum- j ably-is consuming the dominions, and finds itself committed to the task of going on with the now base. LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION-: LONDON, March >. The League of Nations Uiuon passed a resolution reaffirming its conviction that owing to the security provided by the League Covenant and the Pact of Paris the Naval Conference should result in a large all-round re- 1 duction in armament. It is appealing to Mr MacDonald to use his full resources in authority and influence to restore the confident atmosphere n: which the conference began its labours,