THE CONFERENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 71, 7 March 1930, Page 5

THE CONFERENCE

AGAIN AT FULL STRENGTH

RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS.

IMPORTANT SUBMARINE DISCUSSION.

[British Official Wireless.)

(Received 7, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, March 6.

The full work of the Naval Conference will be resumed to-morrow morning when the heads of all the delegationst will again meet, while the “first” committee in the afternoon will receive the report of the experts’ committee on special vessels. The American newspapers to-day published a report from Colonel Stimson referring to the suggestion that the Conference may lead to an increase rather than to a reduction of the world's navies. He says that the plan which, in its essentials, appears acceptable to both the American and British delegations provides for a net reduction of the tonnage of the American fleet, being built or building, far over 200,000 tons and a larger reduction on the part of the British fleet. These reductions, he adds, are of course contingent <n some reductions being made in the fleets of the other Powers. The Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson had a conversation to-night with M. Briand immediately on the latter’s return to London. He is the head of the French delegation in the absence of M. Tardieu, who is postponing his arrival in London in order to visit the flooded areas in southern France. To-morrow the full work of tho Conference will bo resumed, with a meeting in the morning of the delegation chiefs.

DISCUSSION ON SUBMARINES.

(United Press Association—By CableCopyright.)

(Received 7, 10.45 a.m.) i London, March 6. The Naval Conference experts committee continued the discussion of the submarine problem, eliciting the interesting viewpoints that Britain and America are willing to accept as a basis of discussion the maximum figure suggested at Geneva, namely 1800 tons. Italy agreed to this but Japan demanded 2000. France would accept a figure agreeable to the other Powers if she were permitted to retain a certain number of submarines up to 8000 tons. Britain and America would compromise on 2000 tons provided there was only one Class of submarine, none of which would exceed that figure Italy also e.ged that there should be but a single class. It is pointed out that the French proposal favouring 3000 tonners would create a category which could be numbered individually like cruisers, thereby providing super-submarines apart from the smaller ones included in global tonnage.