SUBMARINE WARFARE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17230, 9 April 1930, Page 7

SUBMARINE WARFARE

DISCUSSION IN LONDON COMMITTEE'S PEOPOSALS ABOLITION IMPRACTICABLE: (British Oflicial Wireless.) Re.c. noon. RUGBY, April 8. Mr. MacDonald bad over two hours conversation with M. Briand at the House of Commons this afternoon on political aspects of the Naval Conference, which were the subject of a private discussion in London last week, and upon which M. Briand consulted bis Government in Paris during the week-end.. Other aspects of the conference were discussed by delegates and experts during the day at St. James' Palace. The reservations attached by the Japanese Government to its acceptance of the compromise tonnage proposals, which were, agreed upon by the United States and Japanese delegations in London, with the full concurrence of the British delegation, were this morning examined by the. heads of the delegations of flic three powers concerned. Very satisfactory progress was made, and it is understood that only one. subject is now outstanding. This will be further considered to-morrow. OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. The first committee of the conference met this afternoon under the chairmanship of the First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. A. V. Alexander. A communique states: "The committee considered the report of the committee of experts dealing with the unit si/.e ot submarines, and decided to forward a report with a unanimous recommendation of the first committee to the beads of delegations. A report of the jurists' committee on legal aspects of submarine, warfare was. after discussion, unanimously adopted, and will also be forwarded to the heads of delegations. The question of the total abolition of submarines was examined by the first committee, but' various delegations having expressed their views it was clear that no agreement could be reached on this point, and the committee, with regret, decided that it was impossible to recommend abolition. "Passing to the. consideration of the unit size of submarines, an agreement was, after some discussion, reached. The French delegates, supported by the Japanese, agreed with the other powers represented to the recommendations of tho experts that the maximum unit tonnage of submarines should lie 2000, with a maximum gun of sin., but they asked for three submarines of 2800 tons each, armed with 6in. guns for the period of the convention, which it is proposed should last until 1936. This was ultimately agreed to, each country being accorded a similar right to build not more than three such larger vessels on condition that these, super-submarines are included in the total tonnage allotted for submarine category. HUMANISING PROPOSA L.

"The most* important, of tho recommendations made by the committee was the endorsement ot the jurists' report on measures lor humanising submarine warfare. On this subject the committee decided to recommend tor adoption by the plenary session a new form of declaration to which all the powers represented at the conference should adhere, and to which other powers not represented should be invited to give their formal assent: 'The undersigned, duly authorised to that,effect on beiiaU of their respective Governments, hereby make the loilowing declaration, namely, the following are accepted as established rules of international law: Firstly, m their action m regard to merchant ships submarines must conform to the rules of international law to which surface war vessels are subject; secondly, in particular, except in the case of persistent refusal to stop 911 being duly summoned, or of active resistances to a. visit or search, a warship, whether a surface vessel or submarine, may not sink or render incapable of navigation a merchant vessel without having first placed the passengers, crew and ship's papers in a place of safety; for this purpose a ship's boats are not regarded as a place of safety unless the safety of the passengers and crew is assured in the existing sea and weather conditions by the proximity of land, or the presence of another vessel." At the conclusion of the conversation between Mr. MacDonald and M. Briand a communique was issued which states: "M. Briand informed Mr. MacDonald of the result of the conversations which he had in Paris, and on his side Mr. MacDonald stated tho results of discussions which had taken place in the meantime in London." It is understood that the discussions, will bo continued to-morrow. In the House of Commons Mr. MacDonald said the Government was still working to secure a five-power agreement. Britain and America have agreed to Japan's earlier replacement of light cruisers and destroyers. The only outstanding point is the transfer of the destroyer tonnage to submarines. THREE-POWER TREATY ALMOST READY FOR SIGNING (Received April 9, noon.) LONDON, April 8. It is learned that a three-power treaty has so progressed that it shortly will be ready for signing. Australia, New Zealand, and Canada will sign separately from Britain, in accordance with the 1i)2(5 .Imperial Conference declaration. It is stated that South Africa is not signing, she not being interested in the Pacific Ocean. The treaty will mean a considerable saving in building programmes, but reservations give the right to resummon the signatories if European powers'ibuilding makes it necessary.