Good Progress

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 58, 9 April 1930, Page 7

Good Progress

(British Official Wireless.)

CONFERENCE'S SUCCESS Britain, America And Japan Agree SUBMARINE WARFARE LAWS,,

(Received This Day, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, April 8.. Mr Ramsay MacDonaTd had over two hours* conversation with M". Briand at the House of Oommons this afternoon on the political aspects of the Naval Conference wliich were the subject of a private discussion in London [ last week and upon which M. Briand consulted his Government in Paris during the week-end. Other aspects of the conference were discussed hy delegates and experts during the day at St. James' Palace. Tlie reservations attached _ by the Japanese Government to their acceptance of the compromise tonnage proposals which were agreed upon hy the United States and Japanese delegations in London with fyll eoncnrrenee of the British . delegation, were this morning examined by the lieads of the delegations of the three Powers concerned. Very satisfactory progress was made and it is understood that only one su'bject is now outstanding. This will bi further considered to-morrow. The First Committee of tbe conference met « this afternoon under the chairmanship of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A- V. Alexander.^ A communique states that the committee considered the report of the committee of experts dealing with the unit size ; of suhmarines and decided to forward 'the report with nnanimous recommendations. of the First Committee to the lieads of the delegations. _ The report of the Jurists' Committee on the legal aspects of submarine warfare was, after discussion, unanimously adopted and will also be _ forwarded to the heads of the delegations, The qnestion of the tptal aholition, of suhmarines w;as eXamined_ hy the First Committee but the various delegations having expressed their views ib was-clear that no agreement conld he reaehed on this point arid the committee with regret decided that it was irapossible to recommend the aholition. QUESTION OF SIZE. Passing to the consideration oi tbe unit size of suhmarines an agreement was, after sorne discussion, reachea, The French delegates, supported hy the Japanese, agreed with the other Powers reuresented to the recommendations oU tlie experts that the maximum unit tonnage of snbmarines should he 2000, with a maximum gun of five inches, but they asked for three suhmarines of 2800 tons, each armed with six inch guns, for the period of the convention which it is 'proposed should last until 1936. This was ultimately agreed to, each country being accorded a similar right to huild not more tlfan three of such larger vessels on condition that_ these super suhmarines are included in the total tonnage allotted for the' submarine category, . The most lmportant of the recommendations made hy the committee was the endorsement of the jurists' report on measures for humanising submarine warfare. On this subject- the committee decided to recommend for the adoption bv the Plenary Session a new form of deelaration to which all Powers represented at the conference should adhere and to which other Powers not represented should be invited to give their formal assent, as follows: — ESTABLISHED RULES, "The undersigned. duly authorised t« «>at effect on beliall of their respective Governments, herehy make the following deelaration, namely, the following are accepted as esta'blished rules or : international law : — "Firstly, in their action with regard to mercliant ships, suhmarines must conform to the rules of international law to which surface war vessels are subject. . "Secondly, in particular, except in a case of persistent refusal to stop on being duly summoned, or of active resistances to visit or search, a warship, whether surface vessel or sunmarine, may not sink or render jhcapahle of navigation a merchant vessel without, having first pla.ce®the passengers, crew, and smp s papers in a place of safety, "For this purpose the ship s hoata are not regarded as a place of safety unless the safety of the passengers and crew is assured in the/3 existmg sea and weather conditions hy. the proximity of land or the presence of another vessel." At the conclusion of the conversation between Mr MacDonald and M. Briand a communique issued states, "M. Briand informed Mr MacDonald of the result of conversations which he bad in Paris and on his side Mr MacDonald stated fche results of .discussions which had taken place m tbe meantime in London. . It is understood that discussions will be continued to-morrow in the House of Commons. Mr MaeDonalu said that the 'Govemment was still workmg to seeure a five Power agreement.