NAVAL POWERS CONFER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18545, 16 April 1930, Page 9

NAVAL POWERS CONFER.

Reception Of Reports.

DRAFTING FIVE-POWER AGREEMENT. (United Press Asson*atlon—3y Electric Telegraph— Cor>i>rtfrht.) LONDON, April 14. At the Nava! Conference, in less than half an hour, without dissent except a reaffirmation of Italy’s general reservation, made at the opening of the Conference, this morning's plenary session adopted, for the guidance of the drafting experts, nine separate reports, and addenda, covering the Conference’s work. The proceedings v/ere singularly un* informative, Mr Macdonald just giving a sufficient idea of each report to enable the delegates to identify the subject. He 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-morrow. The Conference unanimously agreed to this proceeding. As was generally expected, drafting experts found it impossible to com* plete the Treaty before Easter. They will have to work hard to have it ready for signing by April 22, Plenary Session. At the plenary meeting of the London Naval Conference to-day, the Prime Minister presiding, reports were presented and noted, or approved, in order to enable the work of drafting a treaty to be proceeded with. It was hoped that the Treaty would be completed and presented for signature at the Plenary meeting on Thursday. This has proved impossible, but it is intended to hold the final Plenary meeting for this purpose on Tuesday of next week. The experts, meanwhile, will sit twice daily, including the Easter holidays. The Prime Minister stated in Parliament he hoped the first draft would be received to-day. It is stated that the head of the American delegation, Mr H. L. Stimson, has asked the shipping lines to defer for 48 hours the departure of the liner Leviathan, by which his delegation was due to leave to-morrow. Questioned in the House of Com* mons as to whether negotiations for the interpretation of Article XVI of the Covenant were still proceeding, and whether he could make a statement, the Prime Minister said the answer was in the negative. Mr T. M. Wilford, asked to comment on the Conference conclusions, said he had nothing to say at present, but Singapore was never discussed, and never used as a bargaining factatf during the whole Conference.