Powers’ Navy Needs

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 886, 1 February 1930, Page 11

Powers’ Navy Needs

FRANCE STATES HER COMPROMISE Trouble in Fixing Basis naval delegates in session 'THE first committee session of the Five Powers Naval Conference has been held, and delegates are now considering proposals concerning the fixing of fleet tonnage. France’s compromise plan is announced. The Dominions’ delegates are insisting upon full representation on the committees relating to the method of disposing of the agenda of the conference, which has hitherto presented difficulties.

British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. The first committee o£ the Naval Conference, consisting of all members of the conference, met this afternoon at St. James’s Palace. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald presided. The committee took up the questions of limitation of global tonnage and the limitation by categories. After statements had been made by Mr. A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty; Mr. R. Wakatsuki Japan; Admiral Siranni, Italy; and Mr. Adams, United States, M. Massigli, on behalf of the French delegation, gave an outline of the revised French compromise proposal. The committee adjourned until February 4 in order to give the delegates an opportunity to study the abovementioned statements, and any proposals that might be submitted to them. The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and the full British Dominion delegations, conferred for over two hours at St. James’s Palace. It is believed that difficulties arose in connection with the steering committee, on which all delegations were represented. Some objected to the extensive Dominion representation on the committee, expressing the opinion that it gave Britain the balance of power. Mr. MacDonald pointed out that nothing could be adopted unless the committee was unanimous. It would not matter then how extensive was the Dominions’ representation. An earlier proposal, that the committee comprise two delegates from each Power, was abandoned owing to the Dominions’ insistence upon full representation, which was granted. The conference, as a committee of the whole, meets this afternoon for the first time since its inception, to discuss, in accordance with Mr. H. L. Stimson’s resolution yesterday, the following agenda items: First, France’s system of global tonnage, with a transactional basis, and a classification of the conditions of transfer; and, secondly, the British system of categorical limitation. FRANCE’S PLAN COMPROMISE ON TONNAGE QUESTION OF CATEGORIES LONDON, Friday. The compromise plan proposed by France at the plenary session of the Naval Conference —which is clumsily called a “transactional” proposal—provides as follows: That each Power shall specify the maximum figure of its total tonnage which it will undertake not to exceed. Bach Power also to submit figures for categories of ships the tonnage of which must not exceed the total tonnage for transference. A certain agreed percentage, say, 10 per cent., would be allowable from one category to another, but only with notice and a number of safeguards. Any increase in tonnage in one category would have to be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in another. The categories would remain fixed for the duration of the treaty. After that they could be altered only by giving 12 months’ notice to the League of Nations. The French delegates want a deviation among all the categories, hut that is not likely to be agreed to. The categories suggested are: (1) Battleships of 10,000 tons and over, or ships carrying S-inch guns and over. (2) Cruisers carrying guns above a 6-inch calibre. (3) Surface craft carrying less than 6-inch guns, including destroyers. (4) Aircraft-carriers. (5) Submarines. (6) Minesweepers and various small craft. DIVISION OF CRUISERS It is hoped that the division ol cruiser categories will help to solve the problem outstanding between Bri

tain and the United States, and that the grouping of light cruisers and destroyers will meet tile naval requirements of France. Whether the categories will stand as herein detailed remains to be seen. It is known that the original British list distinguished between battleships and 8-inch gunned cruisers. A great advance toward agreement between the nations lies In the fact that while the French hitherto have argued that limitation could only be achieved by total tonnage, leaving any State to allot the tonnage according to its own requirements, and while Britain held that limitation could best be effected within the categories, now the first method has been approved combining both Ideas. FEELING OF OPTIMISM VALUE OF INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS British Official Wireless Reed. 11.5 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. Optimism on the course of the Naval Conference was definitely increased by the proceedings at yesterday’s public session. For the time being the delegations have now returned to the method of private conversations with meetings of the committee appointed yesterday, and frequent consultations are being held between the five chief delegates. As the result of these exchanges, it is hoped that a plenary session, at which further progress can be publicly recorded, will become possible before long. It is clear that no attem.pt is to be made to fix a rigorous programme. “The Times” points out that where a great number of interlocking questions are to b.e discussed and the solution of each of them may be affected by that of others, it may prove better to proceed along the informal lines adopted by the conference. When it becomes clear from the conversations between the delegations which particular difficulty had best be got out of the way first, then a concentrated attack can be made upon it, as is now being made upon the difference over the method of limitation; and while this Is being done further informal discussion will reveal the next most necessary step. FRENCH PLAN OPPOSED The “Manchester Guardian,” discussing the French method, says it means that the total tonnage assigned to each Power would be fixed and the tonnage allotted to each category fixed, but that each country would be at liberty to transfer the tonnage from one category to another. In principle this freedom is objectionable. It involves the possibility of a continual unsettlement of whatever balance of forces is arranged at the conference.

If it is necessary to accept the “transactional” method at all in order to secure agreement, the transference of tonnage should be limited at every possible point. The French proposals speak only of a fixed percentage, and would allow transference in/ every category, but the percentage should be low and should be restricted to as few categories as possible; for to the extent that the transactional method is accepted, the actual maximum in a particular category will be uncertain, variable and subject to new programme-making.

The French Foreign Minister, M. Briand, left London today for Paris, where he will speiid a few days to attend to pressing State matters before returning to the conference.