PREPARING THE TREATY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 8

PREPARING THE TREATY

NAVAL REDUCTIONS SIGNATURE NEXT TUESDAY LARGE SAVINGS F.FFECTER (llritisli Official Wireless.) Hoc. 2 [).m. 11l < I ID. . April 14. At the ..Naval Conference!, in less than half an hour, without dissent except fin the reaffirmation of Italy's general reservation made at the opening of the conference, this mornings plenary session adopted for the guidance of the drafting exp'-rts nine separate reports an.l ml deuda covering me conference’s work. The proceedings were singularly limn formative. Mix MacTmnald just giving a sufficient idea of each report to enable tho delegates to identify the subject. Ho admitted that there were so many reservations which would be found recorded in their proper places that the best thing was merely to adopt the reports, which will be published to inoiroW. Tho conference unanimously agreed lo this proceeding. As was generally expected, the drafting experts found it impossible to complete the treaty before Easier. They will have to work hard to h.ivo it ready for signing by April 22. Mr. Stijiisoii 4 yesterday broadcast from London to American listeners a statement on the, work oi the conference. lie said the principal objective had been to extend the principle, of limitation by agreement, so that it should cover all elements of a licet, and thus complete what had been left undone- at Washington and Geneva. So far as the Heels of Britain. Japan, and the United States were concerned, that purpose had been achieved. By stopping competition and establishing tl'io mutual -confidence which canto with the agreement, the conference could speed up the great movement for -world peace. THE TONNAGE REDUCTION. ‘■Jn 1927 the lowest tonnage decree which Great Britain would discuss for cruisers, destroyers, and submarines, taken together, was 590,000 tons,” lie continued. "In addition to (his, she insisted upon retaining until .1936 25 per cent.-, of tho average tonnage. As against this, her tonnage m these types ol ships under our present agreement will be 541,700 tons, a reduction of 48,300 tons. Japan has agreed to a reduction of 70,950 tons. In addition to this reduction, Great Britain has agreed to scrap immediately 133,900 tons of her battleship Heel. America is to Scrap immediately 69,900 imis of her battleship licet, and .Japan 26.330 lons. It you add the total difference fur the three Heels of these three nations between the Geneva proposal and otir present agreement, there is an aggregate reduction of 445,000 lons.” At the plenary meeting of Hie conference to-day, the Bruno, Minister presiding, reports were presented and noted or approved in order to i-nahie the work ot drafting the treaty to be proceeded willi. lu was hoped that the. treaty wo.dd lie completed and presented for signature at tjie plenary meeting oil Thursday. This lias proved impossible, but it is intended to hold a final plenary meeting for tins purpose on Tuesday of next week. The experts, meanwhile, will sit lwi:-c daily, inrl, tiding the Easier holidays. Tim Crime Minister stated in I'arliament that lie hoped Ihe first draft, would bo received to-day. it is stated that (lie head of the American delegation. Mr. Stimson, lias asked tiie shipping line lo deter for -.8 homs the departure of the. liner Leviathan. by which his delegation was due to leave to-morrow. Questioned in the House of Commons as to whether the negotiations fpr an interpretation of Article 16 of the covenant were still proceeding, and whether he, could make <u statement, the Crime Minister said the answer was in the negative.