GOOD PROGRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17966, 11 March 1930, Page 7

GOOD PROGRESS.

AT NAVAL CONFERENCE.’ GETTING DOWN TO BEDROCK. CONSIDERATION OP CATEGORIES. United rress Assn. —Elec. Tel.—Copyright. (Received March 11, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 10. The Naval Conferen'ce Communique states :—“ The heads and other members of the United States, French, British, and Belgian delegations held a conversation at St. James’ Palace in the forenoon. Certain technical questions were found to require exploration. The French Minister of Marine and the First Lord of the Admiralty accompanied _ by technical advisers, with the American observers were asked to consider these immediately and report as soon as possible in order to give time for the continuous prosecution of this inquiry. The Italians and Japanese gave assent to the postponement of the meeting of the heads of delegations fixed for 3 p.m. till Tuesday. A further meeting of the three delegations will be held on Wednesday at 3 p.m. or earlier if the technical report is ready.”

The British Spokesman in explaining the Communique assured pressmen that the political question of guarantee did not arise. Instead the matter of Anglo-French tonnage totals had been taken up in the hope, of getting down to bedrock, with a view to fitting them into the category table. The presence of figures and of the American observers throws into perspective the course of the conference which is tackling the Anglo-French figures. The first part of the morning’s discussion concerned British, Japanese, and American figures which have now been put aside, very satisfactory progress having been made in this quarter. Nothing definite has been decided, nor would it be, until the whole Five Power Treaty falls into place. The Americans are looking on helpfully while the British and French figures are being discussed because the ultimate settlement of European figures must control the whole settlement of the British, Japanese, and American totals. The allusion to satisfactory progress with the British, Japanese and American figures is understood to refer to a complete agreement that the United States and Japan should have a ratio of 15-12 in large cruisers, leaving more tonnage to build smaller ships. Incidentally, America will come down to Britain’s idea and be satisfied with fifteen 10,000 ton cruisers.