NAVAL POWERS CONFER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18491, 5 February 1930, Page 9

NAVAL POWERS CONFER.

No Fresh Proposals. FIRST COMMITTEE TO MEET. (United Press Association— By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 3. A preparatory meeting of the First Committee in connection with the Naval Disarmament Conference will be held to-morrow morning. Mr H. L. Stimson will see Mr Macdonald this afternoon. No great progress is expected as a result of this meeting, as M. Tardieu and M. Briand are still in Paris. No fresh proposals have been circulated owing to the elucidation necessary of the French and British formula. HARDEST NUT OF AGENDA. PROBLEM OF TONNAGES. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 3. There are indications that the week’s Conference discussions of elastic tonnage will produce the hardest nut of the whole agenda. In the French suggestion there would be one scale for Britain, America and Japan, and another for France and Italy. It is safe to say that the former Powers will oppose the application of the French idea to the transfer of battleships, and 8-inch cruisers, which would mean giving France and Italy freedom to exchange the whole range of ships. The major Powers are intent on confining the elasticity to 6-inch cruisers downwards, covering both commerce protection cruisers and submarines, to which the French mind is apparently strongly wedded. Behind the idea of the separate Continental scale is the right to transfer 20 per cent., while Britain, America and Japan would be limited to 10 per cent.

Such wider elasticity naturally raises the point that France and Italy, by building large cruisers, could upset the balance of the British, American and Japanese reckonings. Similarly, it might embarrass Britain, whose commerce protection needs to extend beyond mere Mediterranean and African interests.

France so far has not discussed the nature of her plans in regard to submarines.

It is felt that this problem must arise immediately, because the quotas cannot be tackled until it is seen what strength in submarines she and Japan desire. FRENCH SUBMARINE FLEET. ROOT RESOLUTIONS MAY BE RAISED. (United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 4, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. The “Daily Telegrayh's” naval correspondent states that in anticipation of France’s insistence upon a fleet of submarines, comprising 126,00 tons, there is a strong probability that the American delegates will raise the question of the so-called Root resolutions, which form the appendix of the Washington Naval Treaty, wherein are incorporated seven articles, four relating to submarines and another to the use of poisonous gas. In view of France’s gigantic submarine programme, the questions which will be put to France in regard to her intentions towards the Root resolutions might be embarrassing.