Evening star., 1921-12-31


riers, which included four vessels which
were really experimental and three OF
which were small and inefficient
These vessels, in fact, were in the
nature of gropings in the light of
the experience gained by the war, and
mental and obsolete. In these circum-
stances whatever decision might be
reached as regards the total tonnage
he. would have to demand that Great
Britain should be entitled, in spite
of the rule as regards new construc-
tion which would be discussed later.
to scrap at any moment the expert
mental ships which they now pos
sessed and to replace them with new
ships designed to meet the require
ments of the feet.
Britain Rejects Proposal.
This was the only way in which
the British fleet could attain. that
equality with other fleets to which il
was entitled. With that reservation
the British empire delegation regret
ted, in view Of the fact that subma-
rlnes, which were an important
weapon of war, were to be continued,
and airplane carriers were an equal
ly important weapon of anti-subma-
rine defense, that 1T would be impos-
slble to reduce their airplane car
riers for fleet service. In these cir
cumstances the delegation to which
he belonged felt that the tonnage laid
down in the original American pro-
posals was inadequate to the essen
tial requirements of the British en-
pire. as, indeed, they must be if the
British navy was to have numbers
proportional to the two ships which
Italy had demanded. Before coming
10 the exact figures at which he
thought the total tonnage limit should
M hz Il 81
views of other delegations. The Brit
ish empire delegation were most anx-
ious. as, indeed, they had shown. to
limit not only armaments, but ex
penditure on armaments, and they
were most anxious to avoid competi-
ton in every class of craft. and there
lore to limit the numbers and tonnage
of airplane carriers to the lowest
point compatible with safety. He
would now like to hear the views of
his colleagues on other delegations.
Sees No Definite Decision.
Admiral de Bon said that the ques-
ton of the total tonnage of aircraft
carriers was evidently Intimately re-
lated to the maximum of each unit.
Now in this respect there was evil
IDENTIFY great uncertainty, aircraft
being still the subject for further
study and examination, and he did
not see that in any country definite
views concerning type of aircraft
had been reached. If there were un-
certainty with regard to aircraft this
uncertainty would evidently apply to
the aircraft carriers. The decisions
which the committee could take on
this subject We're therefore marked
in advance by degree of weakness
due to this uncertainty. and could
therefore be only provisional.
Having made this reservation, Ad-
rsIl IL h I...tt trr
than to support the views of the
other members of the committee. In
the present case it could be assumed
that about $4,000 tons would be the
maximum tonnage Of an ordinary
aircraft carrier.
The French delegation considered
that France actually required two
aircraft carriers for European waters.
This followed the same line of rea-
sonins advanced by Italy. They also
considered that a third was neces-
Sary for use in their colonial posses
sionS. The use of aircraft for police
purposes in the colonies was consid-
cred by them as of the greatest serv-
ice. II newspaper reports might be
believed, the French delegation sug-
eested that an actual example of this
fact was now offered in Egypt, where.
in order to maintain order. the ef-
feet created by the presence of air
craft was invaluable.
Admiral de Bon stated that in view
of the above the French delegation con-
sidered that three aircraft carriers were
necessary for the needs of France. If
each one of these were of %. 900 tons
that would make a total of 5000 tons.
But. in order more nearly to approach
the general wishes expressed he said
that he would voluntarily agree that
$4,000 tons might be sufficient for the
present and by a Encouragement of ton
mage. three vessels might be built in
conformity with this allowance.
Approves Italian Plea.
Baron kato said:
81 have listened with pleasure to the
remarks made by Lord Lee on the
question of airplane' carriers. His SYM
pathies with the Italian demand for two
carriers are in accord with my position.
!. too. believe that the Italian demand
is justifiable
Now the American proposal allows
Japan a total tonnage of $4,000 with
which she can construct only one and
half airplane carriers. That will not,
in my judgment. give us a sufficient
force for our protective purposes. Per-
NIT me TO call your attention again to
the insular character of our country,
the extensive line of our coast and the
location OF our harbors and the sus-
ceptibility of our cities built of frame
houses to easy destruction by fire if at
tackled by air bombs. All these neces-
state our having certain number of
airplanes and portable" airplanes-that
is to say, a means of distributing air
planes in such a manner as to adequate
ly meet our local needs. We cannot
have an enormous number of airplanes
to be stationed in all places where they
are needed because We are economically
incapable. To meet all these needs
Japan is exceedingly desirous to have
three airplane carriers Of $1,000 tons
each, or a total tonnage of 1000. In
asking for this increase, I shall, of
course, raise no objection for a propor-
tionate increase on the part of the
United States or Great Britain"
Chairman Outlines Situation.
The chairman said that, as he
understood it. the situation disclosed
by the discussion was as follows:
Great Britain desired five airplane
carriers at whatever the maximum
taken to be, and, if that were $4,000
tons. it would mean a maximum of
$4,000 tons. France desired $4,000
tons, which. of course. could be di-
vided in such way as would be
deemed best suited to the special
which. at maximum of $1,000 tons,
would make an allowance of $4,000.
Japan desired three, which, at the
maximum of $1,000 tons. would be
81 900 tons.
Now. this appeared to be, with the
single exception of very slight diff
ference between $4,000 and $4,000 in
the case of France. in the ratio of the
capital ships. 1t was quite apparent,
for the reasons that had been very
cogently presented, that the original
figures of the American proposal
would not meet what were deemed
to be the needs of the various gov
ernments. He also understood that
there was agreement by all that the