NAVAL TALKS IN LONDON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19944, 31 October 1934, Page 7

NAVAL TALKS IN LONDON

JAPAN’S DEMAND FOR HIGHER RATIO STRONG OPPOSITION BY UNITED STATES British Official Wireless (Received October 30, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, October 29. The first official naval talks between representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States Governments began at No. 10 Downing Street to-day. The British and American delegates are familiar with the outline of the Japanese proposals, on which they today compared their impressions. Broadly stated the Japanese proposals come under two headings: Quantitative proposals, which suggest a common upper limit with considerable freedom inside the tonnage total; and qualitative proposals, which are directed at a drastic limitation of “offensive” units. Although the British and American delegates naturally approach the proposals from different political and geographical backgrounds, the difficulty confronting both delegations was to reconcile the Japanese desire for a common upper limit with their different defence needs. Again, in regard to the qualitative proposals, a difficulty arises in deciding which types of vessels are offensive and which defensive. The discussions will be continued this week on a bilateral basis. CHECK TO JAPANESE ASPIRATIONS OPPOSITION TO CHANGE IN RATIO United Press Association —Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 30, 7 pm.) LONDON, October 29. “The Daily Mail” says that the outcome of the naval discussions was America’s refusal to admit Japan’s claim to equality. Mr Norman Davis (United States) informed Mr Yamamoto (Japan) that the United States regarded the present ratio adequate for Japan’s needs, particularly in view of the existing treaties. The political correspondent of “The News Chronicle” says that the naval discussions have reached a virtual deadlock, though the delegations will continue to meet. The Americans proposed the formation of a small committee of experts, but the Japanese delegates refused, declaring that they could not discuss details until the principle of equality was accepted. The Americans replied that they could not discuss equality, until they knew exactly what the word meant. There, momentarily matters stand. SMALL CAR RECORDS CAPTURED BY ENGLISH DRIVER British Official Wireless (Received October 30, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, October 29. Captain George Eyston established new records for the 11,000 C class of motor car at Montlhery track. The records which had for six years been held by a French driver, included those for one, five, and ten miles, and for one, five and ten kilometres, the speed in each case exceeding 128 miles an hour.