MAKING PROGRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 7

MAKING PROGRESS.

NAVAL CONGRESS RESUMES

A FAVOURABLE ATMOSPHERE. RETURN OF FRENCH DELEGATES. (Official Wireless.) (Received March 8, 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 7. The French delegation, headed by the Foreign Minister (M. Briand), and including the new Minister of Marine (M. Dumesnie) arrived in London last night and were met by the British Foreign Secretary, Right lion. A. Henderson.

M. Briand had a conversation early this morning with Mr/ Ramsay MacDonald, and later a meeting of the heads of the delegation was held, when the whole general position was reviewed.

NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED. DEFINITE ADVANCE RECORDED. ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. (Official Wireless.) (Received March 8. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 7. The work of the Naval Conference was formally resumed in St. James’ Palace this morning, when the heads of the delegations surveyed the whole ground and displayed a determination to press on with the work as quickly as possible. The- atmopshere of the conference is favourable for such advance. Six weeks ago, when it began, those attending the conference were freely discussing whether the limitation of the size of oapital ships and the reduction of their gun calibres, could be achieved. The tendency in authoritative British circles now is to lake it for granted that if all goes well there will be no need for building new capital ships before 1936. Again, a quicker scrapping programme than was envisaged by the Washington Treaty is now contemplated. A definite advance in the work of the conference is also marked by the removal of the question of rival global and category methods of limitation from the realm of controversy. A compromise on this subject,is set out in the experts’ report, and embodies a skeleton table of categories which went before the heads of the delegation to-day. The report was in most respects approved. A communique issued after the meeting said: “ Two closely-related questions were referred back to the First Committee for further examination in the light of to-day's discussion, and a few remaining matters not settled by the report were deemed to be easier to arrange after an agreement had been reached in regard to the figures.”

This afternoon the First Committee accepted the experts’ report of the vessels hot subject to limitation, and it is now ready for submission to a plenary session. The committee has in effect adopted the draft regulations drawn up at Geneva, subject to two changes—rnamely, the proposed speed limit of the vessels exempt has been increased from 18 to 20 knots, and to the list of exempt vessels has been added small- seaplane oarriers equipped with apparatus for launching not more /than three seaplanes. > On the question of special vessels, which lie outside proposed categories and are not exempt vessels, the report of the experts was in general accepted by the First Committee,, but before it can be sent on, there will be a further discussion as to whether or not the tonnage of special vessels should be reckoned in tbe total tonnage allotted to Powers. Another matter for further discussion is as to what category further aircraft carriers which fall below the level of, existing aircraft carriers and are larger than exempt seaplane carriers should be placed.

REDUCE ARMAMENTS. APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER. (Official Wireless.) (Received March 8, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 7. The executive committee of the League of Nations Union and the National Council for the Prevention of War have made representations to the Prime Minister in view of the anxiety which has been aroused among" the friends of armaments reduction concerning the results of the Naval Conference. The League of Nations Union executive urges the Prime Minister to use his great authority to"

to restore the oonfident atmosphere in which the Conference began Its labours, so that there may be a large all-round reduction of armaments.

FULL STEAM AHEAD.

MR MACDONALD’S DECLARATION. SPOKESMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT. United Press Assi».-~filec. Tel. —Copyright. (Received March 8, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, March 7:.

“Well, the Conference has got hack into working order now, and is going full steam ahead,” declared Mr Ramsay MacDonald in meeting thejournalists after a meeting of the heads of the delegations.'

The British spokesman explained: “Some commentators said, ‘Don’t let yourselves get into figures.’ How could we get anything,” he asked, “without figures? I cannot say what is going to be the result, but I unhesitatingly and unreservedly express the opinion that work is going to be done.” Asked if be could suggest how long the Conference would last, be replied: “It should not bo very long now. It was 1 esitimate to .saj' it had been prolonged. We reckon to finish before the Budget discussions on April Li. It is still possible. An official communique states: “The heads of the delegations met in the morning and expressed deep sympathy with France’s loss of life, suffering, and damage from the disastrous (Continued In nest column.)

floods. ! M. Briand returned thanks to his colleagues, and emphasised the extent France appreciated the sentiment. The First Committee’s first report, dealing with general questions, was referred to the Third- Plenary Committee, and then reviewed in detail. Two closely related questions were referred back to. the First Committee for further examination-.