NAVAL POWERS IN CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18537, 7 April 1930, Page 9

NAVAL POWERS IN CONFERENCE.

Little Hope Of Agreement. FRENCH REFUSE CONCESSIONS. (United Pren Association— By ElsetrH Teiegrnp’i—OopvrlEht.) (Received April 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. A diplomatic correspondent says that the conference is drawing to an end. The Anglo-French negotiations have come to no conclusion, and the prospect of success is minute. The Italians are pressing for a final plenary session next week. M. Briand, after luncheon with Mr Ramsay Macdonald, discussed the situation by telephone with M. Tardieu in Paris, and informed him that they had concluded that the position was hopeless, the latest British suggestions unacceptable, and the search for a formula must be abandoned. The Americans feel that Great Britain and France have been trying to do a job too big for the time and place. The correspondent forecasts that the Anglo-French negotiations be abandoned during the week-end, and a plenary session will be held about Wednesday. The technical work of drafting a three-power pact has begun and should be ready for signing before Easter, thus enabling Mr Stimson to take the liner Leviathan on Easter Tuesday. The “Morning Post’s” special correspondent understands that serious differences have arisen in Cabinet on the subject of the French demands. Some Ministers are opposed to any formula, however mild, committing Britain further. Signor Grandi proposes to depart on April 15, because he has urgent engagments in Rome. New Difficulty. The political aspects of the Disarmament Conference will be further discussed at the luncheon by Mr Macdonald, Mr Henderson and M. Briand. The American, British and Japanese naval advisers continue consideration of the latest communication from Tokio. A new difficulty in the search for a formula is contained in Signor Grandi’s intimation to Mr Macdonald that the interpretation of the Covenant of Locarno concerned other Powers besides France, and the best place to discuss it was Geneva. In any case, the problem remained even if France reduced her figures. She still denies Italy parity.

DISCUSSION RESUMED. M. BRIAND GOES TO PARIS. (United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received April 6, 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. The Anglo-French discussion has been continued. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, Mr Henderson, Dr. Van Sittart are again engaged with M. Briand, in a renewed attempt to fi,nd a formula to satisfy the French, craving for judicial instruments, without involving Great Britain in further military commitment. M. Briand afterwards went to Paris, and will return on Tuesday. Before departure, he said the British and French viewpoints were closer, and progress had been made. * Work of Delegations. The American delegation has booked its passage home on April 22 well satisfied that a three-Power agreement can be drawn up and concluded before then. This, together with an agreement among the five Powers on technical matters such as the global category compromise, is regarded by the Americans as a well-worth-while result of the whole conference. The Anglo-French security formula talks have now been almost abandoned, with the hope of a five-Power * treaty based thereon. The Anglo-French delegates and their expert advisers, again spent several hours to-day in search for a formula setting out an agreed interpretation of certain articles of the League Covenant. Although their efforts have not yet been successful, the task has not been abandoned, and hopes are still entertained that a formula may be found which will so increase France’s sense of security as to enable her to make an appreciable reduction in her naval tonnage requirements without explicitly 1 or implicitly extending the obligations to which Great Britain is committed under the League Covenant, and the Locarno Treaty. The submarine experts met this afternoon on the subject of the proposals for the humanising of submarine warfare and limiting the size of the submarine. It is expected that the report of these experts will be forthcoming in the course of the next few days. Cost Of Accommodation. It is estimated that the visiting delegations to the Naval Conference have spent more than £200,000 on accommodation and entertaining. The American delegation has been living at the rate of £6OO per day. The United States Government originally provided a fund of £40,000, and this was augmented by £30,000.