NAVAL TALKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 11

NAVAL TALKS

CAPITAL_ SHIPS QUESTION OF TONNAGE AMERICA'S ATTITUDE REDUCTION OPPOSED By Tolecraph—Press Association—Copyrißht (Received February 20, 6.45 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 19 The delegates to the Naval Conference, which is nearing its close, were surprised to-day by the news that France, over tljra heads of the American delegation had appealed direct through her Ambassador at Washington for a reduction of battleship tonnage from 35,000 to 27,500, owing to the cost of construction in France being £3OO a ton. France was referred back by the United States to Mr. Norman Davis in London, who is not likely to acquiesce, though he may agree to a reduction, in the size of battleships' guns from IGin. to 14in. Franco has agreed to the British proposal to solve the difficulty of inviting Germany to the conference, which the French regarded as being interpretable as a condonation of the breach of the Versailles Treaty by Germany's naval rearmament. The proposal embodies the circulation of a draft protocol through diplomatic channels containing the agreements reached. The four Powers represented at the conference will invite the signature of others subject to amendments to be mutually agreed upon before signature, which is not likely to be accomplished within, six months. The Sun-Herald news service says Britain lost a big battle with the United States by failing to secure an agreement to reduce the size of capital ships from the Washington maximum of 35,000 to 25,000 tons. Consequently Sir Eric Driunmond, Ambassador at Rome, conferred with Signor Mussolini and Sir George Clerk, Ambassador at Paris, saw M. Flandin, French Foreign Minister. Both intimated that Britain was compelled reluctantly to agree to 35,000 tons. The French and Italians wanted a 27,500 tons maximum, but Signor Mussolini agreed that the acceptance of 35,000 tons was inevitable. It is expected that the French also will concur. All the Powers are expected to agree to aircraft-carriers of a maximum of 22,500 tons with 6.lin. guns, and submarines 2000 tons, but even if the French agree concerning battleships the conference will not achieve anything of real value.

WASHINGTON FIRM POSITION UNALTERABLE CONCESSION AS TO GUNS (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 19 The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the French Government made a direct but fruitless appeal to the United States to agree at the London Naval Conference to battleships smaller than the present maximum of 35,000 tons. The French Ambassador called at the State Department and conferred with the UnderSecretary, Mr. Phillips. The latter indicated that America's position, as repeatedly set forth at the conference, could not be changed. The Navy Department has indicated that the United States is willing to limit the calibre of guns to 14in. instead of 16in.

The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, deprecated a report that tho French appeal was considered as-having gone over the heads of the American delegation to the conference. He said the delegation had been informed of the step.