FATE OF NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18539, 9 April 1930, Page 9

FATE OF NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Reposes In French Decision. SEEKING SUITABLE FORMULA. (British Official "Wireless.) RUGBY, April 7. Hopes of achieving an agreement on the major phase before the London Naval Conference are dependant upon the result of the Anglo-French efforts to devise a formula offering an agreed interpretation of Article 16 of the Covenant of the League of Nations and the annex of the Locarno Treaty, which would satisfy the French security demands, but would not increase Britain’s overseas commitments. The newspapers point out that if agreements were to be made it remains to be seen whether a formula acceptable to Britain would lead to a substantial reduction of the French tonnage and solve the problem caused by Italy’s demand for parity with the largest Continental naval power. The Anglo-French conversations have been watched with great interest here and in Parliament and in the Press, and anxiety is displayed lest any new interpretation should increase Britain’s obligations. M. Briand is expected to return to London to-morrow after his week-ena consultation with M. Tardieu in regard to the formulae which have been tentatively evolved in the course of the Anglo-French discussions in London.

CONFERENCE AT STANDSTILL. QUESTION RAISED IN PARLIAMENT. (Unite* Press Association—Ey Elac w ne Tel egraph—Copyright.) LONDON. April 7. Till M. Briand returns to-morrow evening the Conference will virtually be at a standstill. Mr Stimson and Mr Macdonald conversed in the morning on the general position. Statement Demanded. In the House of Commons, Mr Arthur Henderson replied to a series of questions regarding the interpretation of Article Sixteen. He said that he could not undertake that no bi-lateral agreement would be made without consulting Parliament. Any agreement would be submitted for ratification. The House had not been consulted before the Locarno agreement. Mr Macdonald would make a full statement as early as possible. In the meantime he appealed for a continuation of patience during the delicate discussions. He was in the closest touch with delegates from India and the Dominions. Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs in the late Conservative Government, moved the adjournment of the House “on a definite matter or urgent public importance, namely, the imminence of an agreement between the Government and foreign Powers regarding the Interpretation to be placed on Article 16 of the Covenant of the League of Nations without any consultation with the Council of the League and thereby engendering suspicion and endangering good relations with other Powers.”

Prime Minister’s Reply. The Prime Minister, in replying, said that he was being asked whether, if there was any re-interpretation of Article 16 of the Covenant involving fresh commitments, and if re-interpre-tation was to be made, he would consult the other members of the Council of the League and give the House an opportunity of considering the matter before any agreement involving such re-interpretation was entered into. If he gave a pledge of that character, it would amount to this, that it would be quite impossible for this Government or any other Government to exchange views or express its views regarding the meaning of an article which was somewhat vague in its meaning as between France and ourselves, Germany and ourselves or Czechoslovakia and ourselves. He could rwt make such a pledge. What was more, there could not be such a pledge. The Prime Minister continued: “Reference has been made to certain work that we have in hand just now. If we do discuss Article 16, all that it amounts to is that one says to the other, ‘What meaning do we individually attach to Article 16?’ At Locarno that was not the case. At Locarno Germany wanted an assurance as to what obligations it would be undertaking if it joined the League of Nations. That is a very serious thing, and that is an absolute interpretation which I say straight away can only be made by the Cc .. :il of the League if it is going to have any binding authority at all. But at Locarno that interpretation was given by the Powers other than Germany represented there, and that interpretation was a new one in its language, which was not found in the Covenant of the League. It was handed to Germany as a guarantee, and initialled and approved as an annexe to the treaty. I am not raising that in any controversial spirit, but as a matter of history. No one knows better than Mr Locker-Lampson that no Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary can give the pledge which he asks for. All we can do Is to say that, having ascertained, as far as we humanly can, the opinion of the country and the opinion of the House, negotiations and discussions on the subjects will be conducted with that opinion well in mind, and never forgotten at any stage. We have been doing our best during the last two and a half months.” Mr Macdonald added that, if the leaders of the parties consulted him, he would tell them exactly the state of affairs. This would not commit either of them to support him, but they would understand the difficulties.

Sir Samuel Hare, Conservative, said that he would convey the Prime Minister’s suggestion to Mr Baldwin and the Liberal leader also accepted the proposal, because, he said, it was very desirable that foreign policy should not be a subject of controversy between parties.

Mr Locker-Lampson consequently withdrew his motion.

“IF CONFERENCE FAILS FRANCE READY TO BUILD. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) PARIS, April 7. If the Naval Conference breaks down France intends to proceed immediately with big navy plans by putting into effect the 1930 programme, providing for the construction of eighteen war vessels, totalling 40,000 tons. They include: — One 10,000-ton cruiser, six high seas submarines of 1500 tons each, six destroyers of 2500 tons each. Various mine-layers and anti-sub-marine craft will also be constructed under the IS3I programme. France may decide on the construction of 55,000 tons of war vessels, including a super cruiser of 15,000 tons.