MOST DELICATE

Evening Star, Issue 22233, 10 January 1936, Page 7

MOST DELICATE

NAVAL CONFERENCE POSITION JAPAN LODGES STRONG OBJECTION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 9. At the Naval Conference it is understood that tho Japanese strongly objected to a discussion of the plans until the question of a common upper limit had -been determined. The opinion is generally expressed that the position of the conference is most delicate. EXAMINATION OF PROPOSALS JAPAN’S ATTITUDE UNCERTAIN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 9. (Received January 10, at noon.) At to-day’s meeting of the First Committee of the Naval Conference the plans submitted by the French, United Kingdom, and Italian. delegations respectively for quantitative limitation of naval armament by means of notification and exchange of building programmes will be further examined’. At yesterday’s meeting they were received favourably by the United States delegation, but the Japanese delegate is understood to have criticised quantitative features of plans, but refused to discuss qualitative questions. A further Japanese pronouncement will, it is understood, be made to-day, and newspapers state that if it indicates that the Japanese delegates will discuss no agreement that does not embody a common upper limit, to which the other delegations are opposed, a critical stage in the conference may be regarded as approaching. ‘ The Times ’ says that even if this should result in, the withdrawal of the Japanese delegation from the conference, it does not necessarily follow that the conference would at once disperse. It .is probable that the other delegations" will seek to conclude an agreement between themselves upon lines on which there would seem to he a largo measure of agreement already, containing a saving clause permitting modification in the event of undue developments elsewhere. FUTURE PROCEDURE INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH JAPANESE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 9. (Recieved January 10, at noon.) Informal discussions with the Japanese delegation were held this afternoon. The conversations, which were most friendly and lasted for an . hour and a-half, were undertaken with a view to considering the future procedure of the conference. The Japanese delegates expressed a desire that the discussions should revert to tho subject of quantitative limitation pure and simple, and in view of this expression of opinion it was agreed that the best plan would bo to postpone to-morrow’s meeting of the First Committee until Monday. In the meantime soundings will he" taken amongst the other delegations to ascertain whether they will be prepared to acquiesce in this proposal. Informal conversations will_ consequently take place td-niorrow with tho other Powers. The delegates to the conference will be entertained'by His Majesty’s Government at a dinner to-night. ' BRITAIN GIVES LEAD LONDON, January 9. (Received January 10, at 2 p.m.) In connection with .the Naval Conference well-informed circles say it is unlikely that the other delegations will raise objection to the Japanese proposal. The British Delegation, agreeing to a further discussion, has given a lead which the others can scarcely refuse to follow. If is considered not unlikely that the next meeting of the conference will finally determine the position of Japan, but the conference may continue on a four-Power basis, as substantial agreement is already reached on a number of points. FRANCE'S ATTITUDE PARIS, January 9. (Received January 10, at 2 p.m.) Tho Foreign Office Spokesman states that if Japan withdraws France is agreeable to a four-Power conference with a view to working out a plan for exchange of building programmes.