Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-20
j. S. NAVAL ENJOYS
CONFER IN SECRET.
Every Effort Is Made to
Withhold Information on
Meeting at Hotel.
Bv the Associated Press


LONDON, February 20-The Amer
lean naval delegation held a secret
meeting in the conference room of the
Ritz Hotel this afternoon. Every at
tempt was made to withhold informa-
ton on the meeting. even to the fact
that 1t occurred. A press announcement
at headquarters simply stated that Mr..
Stimson was In his Office and was I'M
derstood to be clearing his desk for the
week end.
At pm. Secretary Stimson and Sen
ator Reed walked to the House of Com
mons for conference with Prime Min
lister Macdonald
The work Of the London Naval Con-
ference was at standStill today. Legal
advisers of the various delegations
including the French-in an informal
way began discussions of the sub
marine question, however.
The conversations were purely in
formal and without any binding effect.
but the experts expected to 60 thor
oughly into the problem of undersea
craft.
In circles close to the French dele
CATION 1t was said that no matter what
government might be formed in France
the French naval position would re-
main as it has been from the beginning
Of the conference.
Farley Faces Uncertainty,
The conference is hedged about with
doubt and uncertainty. Much of its
outlook for the future depended upon
solution of the political crisis at Paris.
The conference opened more than a
month ago with the provisional Anglo
American parity agreement as a start
ing point and with hope of bringing
some reality into naval reductions. Much
OF the early optimism has disappeared.
Hope now looks to limitation rather
than to reduction; to curbing the naval
ambitions OF the future rather than to
reducing the navies Of the present.
Figures Remain UnsOIved.
During the few weeks of the confer
ence's life old stumbling blocks Of the
oy new difficulties. The present con-
ference succeeded in compromising
compromises to define methods of limit
ing cruiser strength. But 1t still has to
solve the more vital problem of the fig-
ureS OF naval strength which are to be
allotted each power.
1t might be said that the delegations
OF Great Brjtain, the United States.
Japan and Italy greeted the few DAYS of
comparative rest. which the adjourn
ment until next Wednesday will allow.
with signs of relief
Their fondest hope was that by next
Wednesday the French would be back
IN London, ready to proceed with the
conference, and even may have under
gone . change Of heart on their big
tonnage demands.
Subcommittee VIII Meet.
while every effort was being made BY
the delegates to get q breathing spell
during the interim this did not mean
that all conference work ceased. A
subcommittee planned to meet several
times to continue discussion of special
ship categories, but the work of draft
ing submarine restriction agreement
will be postponed until the French
return.
It is not planned to make the work
OF the subcommittee arduous and its
members will have plenty of time for
recreation. Although no plans have
been made for any meetings between
the delegation chiefs it was thought
possible Secretary Stimson might have
an Informal talk with Mr.. wakatsuki or
Mr.. Macdonald before Wednesday.
Dino Grand Is leaving for Italy today
with Admiral Sirianni, so that four
power conversations hardly were pos
Sible before next week.
REACTION TO ITALIAN NOTE.