Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-14
APRIL z NOW SET
FOR PACT SIGNING
Americans Probably Will Be
Ready to Sail at 6 Am.
April %.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 14.-One week from
tomorrow, barring mishaps, representa-
tives of the five great naval powers will
affix their signatures to the historic
pact which has evolved from the Lon
don Naval Conference, after long weeks
Of difficult negotiations.
Announcement to this effect was made
az 24-minute plenary session OF the
conference in Queen Anne's drawing
room in old st. James Palace this noon,
Prime Minister Macdonald officiating
as general chairman of the conference.
His announcement was the principal
development in the whirlwind session,
the first complete meeting Of the con-
ference since february IL. 1t originally
was planned to try to get the treaty
drawn up so that 1t could be signed
next Thursday, but the prime minister
announced that this was impossible of
achievement. AS it is it will he a race
against time for the drafters to get the
document ready for the meeting Thurs
day, so that the Americans may catch
the Leviathan Immediately afterwards
for New York and home.
Differences Remain.
The treaty to be signed will be a
three-power agreement between Japan,
America and Great Britain covering
limitation and reduction of naval craft,
and agreement between the five powers,
France and Italy included, on such
points as humanization Of submarines
and capital ship holiday. Important
French Italian limitation differences
are left unsettled subject to subsequent
negotiations, and there will be clause
allowing any of the three powers sign
ing the limitation section to depart from
its terms if the building of a non-Sig-
natory nation endangers 1t.
The American delegation tentatively
notified the United States Lines they
would be ready to sail for home on the
Leviathan by 6 am, April %.
The liner is due to sail about noon,
April %, but it was indicated last week
that if necessary she would be held "a
hours for the naval delegation.
It is understood that If the delega-
ton cannot catch the Leviathan Secre-
tary Stimson may take the Acquitania
April 26.
Todays plenary session lasted only "a
minutes, and was merely for the pur-
pose of getting final formal approval Of
committee reports, which constitute the
raw" material for the treaty itself. Mr..
Macdonald, an old parliamentariah,
wasted no time, but rushed the busi-
ness so fast that at times he and the
official interpreter fell over each others
words
U. S. Delegation JubiIant.
There was one interesting break,
when the prime minister asked Secre--
tary Stimson to announce an element
of further agreement between him and
Rijiro Wakatsuki, head of the japanese
delegation. Secretary Stimson arose
and said that he and the japanese had
agreed that exchanges might be made
between the light cruiser and destroyer
category not to exceed 10 per cent OF
the category to which the change is
made. The Japanese had asked for q
IS per cent differential.
The American delegation was jubtlant
over the prospect of being able to
catch the Leviathan next Thursday or
thereafter for their homeward trip after
more than three months away from
the United States. It undoubtedly will
be necessary to delay the liners sailing
a few hours, but If treaty is signed
by midday Tuesday the Americans
should be able to get to Southampton
later in the Afternoon.
The fleet limitation agreements are
held by Secretary Stimson to have
reached a lower level than any of us
on any delegation felt confident could
be attained when we came here"
I'VE have reached the lowest level
that I have ever heard seriously dis
cussed before" he told a world radio
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