ALL PRESENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 72, 8 March 1930, Page 5

ALL PRESENT

AT NAVAL CONFERENCE ARRIVAL OF FRENCH DELEGATES. WORK AGAIN RESUMED. [British Official Wireless.) (Received 8. 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, March 7. The French delegation, headed by the Foreign Minister, M. Briand and including the new Minister of Marine, M. Dumeenil, arrived in London last night and were met by the British Foreign Secretary, the Hon. Arth ir Henderson. M. Briand had a conversation early this morning with the Rt. Hon. J. Ramsay MacDonald and later a meeting of the heads of the delegations was held, when the whole general position was reviewed.

AGAIN IN ACTION. The work of the Naval Conference was formally resumed at St. James’s Palace this morning, when the heads of the delegations stuyeyed the who'e ground and displayed a determination to press on with the work as numkly as possible. The atmosphere of the conference is favourable for such advance. Six weeks ago, when it began, those attending the conference were freely discussing whether ‘be limitation of the size of capital shins and the reduction of their gun calibres could be achieved. The endency in authoritative British circles new is to take for granted that if all goes well there will be no need for building new capital ships before 1936. SPEEDING UP. Again, a quicker scrapping programme than was envisaged bv the Washington Treaty is now contemplated. A definite advance in fl o work of the conference is also mancid by the removal of the question of rival global and category methods cf limitation from the realm of contioversy. Compromise on this subject is set out in the experts’ report sad nhodies a skeleton table of categories which went before the heads of the delegations to-day. The report was, in most respects, approved. A communique issued after the meeting said: “Two closely related questions were referred back to the “first” committee for further examination in the light of to-day’s disemsion of the few remaining matters not settled by the report were deemed to be easier to arrange after an agreement had lieen reached in regard to •figures.” EXPERTS' REPORT. This afternoon the “first” committee accepted the experts’ report of vessels not subject to limitation u..d it is now ready for submission to the plenary session. The committee has in effect adopted the draft regulations drawn up at Geneva subject to two changes, namely, the proposed soeed limit of the vessels exempt has ' een increased from 18 to 20 knots ind to the list of exempt vessels has been added small seaplane carriers equipped with apparatus for launching not more than three seaplanes. On the question of special vessels hich lie outside the proposed categories and are not exempt vessels, the eport of the experts was in general ccepted by tbe “first” committee, but bet- re it can be sent on there will be further discussion as to whether or not the tonnage of special vessels should be reckoned in the total tonnage allotted to the Powers. Another matter for further discussion is as to the oueetion in what category future ircraft carriers which fall below the vel ci existing aircraft carriers and :i'O larger than exempt seaplane carneis should be placed. LEAGUE REPRESENTATIONS. The executive committee of the League of Nations Union and the National Council for the Prevention of War have made representions to the Prime Minister in view of the anxiety which has been aroused among friends of the armaments reduction movement, concerning the results ot. the Naval Conference. The League of Nations Union executive urges the Prime Minister to use his great authority and influence to restore confidence and to renew the atmosphere in which the Conference began its labours, so that there may be a large all-round reduction of armaments.

FULL STEAM AHEAD-

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ISSUED.

[United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) (Received 8. 11-50 a.m.) London, February 7. “Well, the Conference has got back in working order now and is going full steam ahead.” declared the Rt. Hon. Ramsay MacDonald, greeting journalists after the meeting of the heads of delegations. The spokesman explained that some commentators said: “Don’t let yourselves get into figures.” “How could we get anything,” he asked, without figures? I cannot say what is going to be the result, but I unhesitatingly and unreservedly express the opinion that work is going to be done ’’

Asked if he could suggest how long the Conference would last, he replied-. “It should not be very long now. It is legitimate to say that it has been prolonged. We reckoned to finish before the Budget discussions on April 24, and it is still possible.” The official communique states: “The heads of the delegations met in the morning and expressed deep sympathy with France's loss of life, suffering and damage from the disastrous floods. M. Briand returned thanks to his colleagues and emphasised the extent that France appreciated the sentiment. The “first” committee’s first re. port, dealing with general questions, was referred to the third plenary

committee and then reviewed,in detail. Two closely related questions were referred back to the “first” committee for fuither examination. The heads will again meet on April 10.