NAVAL CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11121, 3 February 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

I.MAGINA RY DISSENSIONS AMONGST EMPIRE DELEGATES

SENSATIONAL REPORTS IN LONDON PRESS

PREMIER EXPLAINS CHANGES IN COMMITTEE

United Press Assn .by El. Tel. Copyright (Received Feb. 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Fen. I. ' One of the most regrettable features of the naval conference has been the hitherto persistent attempts to raise imaginary dissensions aim ongst the British and the Commonwealth delegations. The French Pres--. readily seized and magnified the situation, which died a speedy death. To-day, however, three .London journals boldly came out with a. new sensation, announcing that the plenary committee decided on on Thursday is not being constituted, but is being supplanted by the committee as a whole, because the Dominions in sisted on the impossible proposal of full representation on the smaller body. 'The source of this irresponsible statement is perhaps indicated by the mass of French comment telegraphed back to London from Paris to-day, showing that special French correspondents are telling Frame that jtho Dominions have put Mr .MacDonald in the embarrassing position of having to appeal to the nations on Friday to amend the procedure to meet the Dominion’s protest. Ive Matin goes so far us to sneer at the self-made importance of some of the navyless Dominions in hampering the work of the conference. The Australian Press Association has Mr MacDonald’s authority to state that the sole reason behind the creation of a committee of a whole instead of a smaller committee was the general recognition that the tonnage problem is most awkward and involved experts in discussion and consultations which could not tie freely undertaken by the smaller committee, whereon each has oruy cue or two delegates, so his suggestion of the whole committee for the sake of flexibility, was readily assented by everybody. It is expected the committee wiil on Tuesday get down to figures and try to fill in the blanks in the draft of the French plan. This does not mean that the conference will concentrate on this to the exclusion of everything else, but while the leaders and experts are busy tiieron, the rernandeY will commence the preliminary discussion of other items of business.

ARRIVAL OF WOMEN’S DELEGATIONS. DISPATCH CASES FULL OF RESOLUTIONS. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Received Feb. 1. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, reb. 1. Women representing the United States, Japan and France, arrived m London to .-support the Naval Conference. The Americans brought huge dispatch cases packed with resolutions from organisations representing 6.000.000 women throughout the country. The two Japanese, who have been travelling since early December, are accompanied by a chest containing ISO,OOO signatures collected in twenty days. They will join the British Women’s Peace Crusade in presenting memorials to the conference. Possibly a special meeting of delegates will i>e arranged for the purpose. otherwise they will be presented by their own delegations. Italy so far is not represented.