LIMITATION OF NAVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 11

LIMITATION OF NAVIES.

WORK OF CONFERENCE.

TRANSFER OF CATEGORIES.

PLANS UNDER CONSIDERATION

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received February 5, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 4,

It is understood that this morning's discussions by tho First Committee of the Naval Conference centred round an attempt to approximate the abstract French proposals to the more concrete British plan for the transfer of categories. It is suggested that it may be quicker if the two sets of experts produce an agreed formula..

It is becoming more evident that the French tactics are increasingly tending to convert the conference into a continuatior. of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations, but officially it is passing unnoticed because the present negotiations are being conducted in a healthier atmosphere. Nobody seems to care about method so long as results are achieved. The French modifications are not serious departures from the plans previously announced. A reference to reservations indicates that Italy again is not ready to commit herself until a stage of greater detail has been reached. Really she is voicing the case of the smaller Powers. For example, if a Power possessed three 10,000rton cruisers it would be quite useless to tell it that it was at liberty to transfer 10 per cent, of its ships to another category. This is only one illustration of the physical difficulties being encountered. However, the hope prevails that all of them will be overcome.

To-day's -communique says the First Committee, at its morning meeting, in addition to the statements mado at the previous meeting, had before it for consideration the French "transactional" proposal —a series of draft resolutions outlined under five heads —also the British compromise plan. Discussion was opened on the basis of the French "transactional" proposal. The points of view of the other four Powers on the principles of the scheme were stated by delegates, after which the proposals were discussed clause by clauso.

Britain's Compromise Plan. A British official wireless message says the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, submitted the British Government's compromise plan for coordinating the category and global theories for the limitation of tonnage. • These were framed so as to facilitate discussion and to elicit the views of the different delegates. Th3y differed in certain respects from the "transactional" proposals of France.

The French scheme is to permit a limited transference of tonnage through all categories. The British proposals would not permit of the transfer in categories of battleships and aircraft-carriers and visualise only a. limited ti'ansfer of tonnage downwards from the large cruiser class, that is to say, those with 8-inch guns and over. In the categories of small cruisers, namely, those with guns of 6-inch or smaller calibre, and of destroyers, transfer, however, would be possible up to 100 per cent. The complete freedom of transfer in those categories, therefore, would allow the nations to meet their individual requirements by devoting if they so desired the whole of the tonnage allotted to them for light cruisers and destroyers to the building of light cruisers only, or of destroyers only. There is no mention of transfer to or from the submarine class, but officially the British delegation still supports the abolition of submarines. In fact, Britain has made something of a gesture by cancelling three submarines in this year's construction programme, and has suspended work on others until after the end of the financial year. Good Eesults of Conversations.

Incidentally the case of the submarine is a clear indication of the weakness of the unmitigated global theory, since the ton in submarines and the ton in, say, cruisers, obviously are not interchangeable units.

The British' proposals were circulated among the delegations yesterday. Other problems before the conference are now being taken up in private and informal conversations. This method of exploration has been found of great assistance in preparing the path to more- formal discussions.

The meeting of the first committee ended in something closely resembling a deadlock.

According to the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent the French standpoint as expounded would make a clean sweep of all ratios, relativity and inter-dependence. Mr. Hugh Gibson, United States, strove hard to find a bridge between the British and French theses. All the delegates agreed before the close of the, meeting that such a bridge should and would be found. Platonic expressions, however, do not alter facts. Cruiser Categories Question.

The French delegates say the British and Americans both favour the French plan of two cruiser categories—Bin. and 6in. gunned vessels—provided there is a fixed basis of transfer. Britain leans to the 6in. gun category, owing to the multiplicity of her world-wide bases, whereas the Americans aro inclined to think the Bin. gun category is suited to the few scattered bases of the United States. But they want the transfers limited to small cruisers and destroyers.

In other quarters it is suggested that Japan will support the British formula, but that she wishes submarines not to be touched. The Americans do not conceal the fact that they will insist upon the exclusion of 10,000-ton cruisers from transfers, but they are willing to allow somo aircraft-carrier tonnage to be allotted lo small cruisers.

The statement that America is willing lo scrap three battleships if Britain scraps the Tiger and Uirco of the Iron Duke class and Japan two battle cruisers, making the ratios 15—15—8, is dismissed as mere kite-flying. Approaching the Bedrock Issues.

The American and Japanese delegate; this afternoon renewed the discussions begun at Washington ancnt Japan's desire for a 10—10—7 cruiser ratio. The Daily Telegraph says it believes tho conference shortly will get down to bedrock issues. The various Powers are preparing to table their claims lo tonnage allotments.

The Americans are ready, when the moment is ripe, to submit cul-and-dried figures of her requirements in all categories, says the paper. Japan is awaiting tho American statement before following suit.