NAVAL POWERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22317, 15 January 1936, Page 11

NAVAL POWERS

SEEKING AGREEMENT LONDON CONFERENCE COMMON UITER LIMIT JAPAN CREATES CRISIS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 14, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGE'Y, Jan. 13 A critical stage has been reached in the London Naval Conference, and much importance is attached to a decision to be made at the next meeting. At the last meeting it was arranged to resume on Friday, but in view of the Japanese delegation's desire to return to its original proposal for common upper limits of the total naval tonnage, a postponement until this evening was agreed upon. A further postponement until to-morrow was accepted at the request of the Japanese. It is understood that these postponements were sought by the Japanese in order to offer suggestions providing for adjustments which would take into account variations in vulnerability and the needs for naval defence of various Powers. The meeting between the British and Japanese delegations this evening was arranged at the request of the Japanese. Mr. Anthony Eden presided. It resulted in a fresh development. It is understood that the Japanese again laid stress on their desire for the discussion of a common upper limit to be reopened at the next meeting of the conference. They explained that there were points on which they required further information from Tokio. Accordingly, to-morrow's meeting of the First Committee was again postponed indefinitely. The newspapers, commenting on the subject, agree that if the Japanese proposal is put to the vote it will undoubtedly be rejected. They anticipate, however, that the other Powers will not force a vote and that the conference will again agree to reserve the common upper limit proposal for further reflection and examination. This would clear the way for the Five-Power Conference to proceed with the problem of qualitative limitation. Fears that the Japanese might leave the conference if their proposals were not accepted, which had been expressed in some of the newspapers recently, appear to have been allayed and the expectation is that the search for an agreement will continue in the spirit of goodwill which has characterised the attitude of all the delegations since the conference opened. TOKIO'S ORDERS DELEGATE'S DIFFICULTY AVOIDANCE OF RUPTURE (Received January 14. 5.5 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON, Jan. 14 The naval correspondent of the Times says the postponement of the naval conference indicates that Admiral Nagano is encountering difficulties in carrying out Tokio's latest instructions enjoining "no rupture but no concession." Apparently this means that the Tokio Government is still insisting upon its demand for a common upper limit, but without pressing the question to a decision. The other delegations are perfectly willing to re-examine the Japanese demand, but only on the definite understanding that if it does not command assent this time it must be finally dropped and not revived. "No concession" may well prove to be incompatible with "no rupture," unless the Japanese instructions are further modified.