HEADS OF DELEGATIONS MEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 March 1930, Page 5

HEADS OF DELEGATIONS MEET

CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS MADE

British Official Wireless)

RUGBY. 11th March

Tho inquiry called for by the heads of the British, American and French delegations on certain technical questions which were found to require further exploration, was proceeded with throughout yesterday by Mr A. V. Alexander and M. Dumesnil. Each was accompanied by experts in the presence of American observers, but the investigations are not yet complete. Hitherto, owing to the French political crisis, a close examination of the figures set out in the French memorandum. with a view to determining the tonnage that will be apportioned to the Powers in the proposed global and category table prepared by the first committee, has not been possible. It is for this purpose that tho new inquiry lias been set on foot. The French demands naturally must affect the final figures put forward by Britain, and as America is to have parity with Britain her naval requirements are also influenced by the French figures. It is for this reason that American observers are attending the inquiry. A long statement on the French case was made yesterday by M. Dumesnil to which Mr Alexander replied.

“The Times” says that there appear to be doubts as to whether the French tonnage figures and the figures put forward by Britain have been compiled on a strictly comparable basis, and this is one of the points which has to be cleared up.

This afternoon the First Committee of the conference will resume consideration of the questions left undecided in the report of its experts on special ships. One of the points outstanding is whether the tonnage of these special ships, which while not falling within the extra class do not fit into the proposed categories, should as France suggests be included in the total tonnage to be allotted to each power, or kept entirely separate in accordance with the British proposal. It also remains to be settled whether the new vessels built to replace these special ships should go in a separate class or be absorbed into the most suitable category. If a decision is reached on these points the plenary session will presumably be summoned to accept the report. The French Prime Minister, M. Tardieu, is expected to arrive in London on Friday. Experts of Great Britain and France with the American observer at their meeting this morning analysed the tonnage statement presented in the French case and agreed upon certain figures as a basis for discussion. These figures were reported to the heads of delegations concerned this morning. Also M. Briand and Signor Grandi had a conversation which lasted some time.

Newspapers state this evening that the American delegation have reached the conclusion that the United States would be unable to accept any consultative pact as means of facilitating the reduction of French tonnage figures, the feeling of the delegation being that such a pact would entail more obligations than appear on the face of it, and that the United States Senate would not ratify any such proposal. At a meeting of heads of delegations to-night considerable progress was made. Mr Alexander reported verbally on the progress of the First Committee, stating that an agreement in substance had been reached regarding special and exempt classes of vessels, and that apart from the question of submarines the greater amount of the business referred to the First Committee had now been, or would shortly be, laid before the beads of delegations, who will meet again on Thursday.