The New York herald., 1922-01-10
TREATY ON NAVIES
RUNS UNTIL 1887
Continued from First Page.

lnSldlleu aDOdTu lHcHi.
The agreement that auxiliary craft
other than airplane carriers shall not
exceed 10000 tons in displacement and
that they shall not carry larger than
eight-inch guns, comes next. The 10000
ton size limitation is understood TO be
held to apply to merchant craft con-
verted for war purposes which would
prevent conversion OF commercial ships
of greater tonnage.
The scrapping provisions as to capi-
tai ships come next and provide that
they must be so disposed of that re-
conversion for war purposes would be
impossible. A brief period Of months
is contemplated as the tune within
which the guns. turrets and other mill
tary equipment must be removed
Wider latitude as to time is given for
ultimate disposition Of the ships them
selves, however. The experts have sane
toned SIX ways in which this disposition
may be accomplished. They are by
sinking, by breaking up. by conversion
into commercial craft, by conversion
into harbor craft or naval arxiliaries
such as supply, repair or cable ships.
by use as targets, or by employment az
seagoing gunnery training ships. to shoot
or be shot at.
Merchant Ships Armament.
Next comes the wholly new provision
requiring that merchant vessels of the
Powers shall be so constructed that they
cannot carry larger guns than six-inch
caliber. This provision is calculated to
make armed merchantmen definitely in
ferior to regular or converted naval aux
iliary vessels, which may carry eight
inch guns, and is intended to meet the
point that big liner might be armed
so heavily as to be superior to any light
ing craft but a capital ship.
The treaty sets out an agreement; that
there shall not be constructed within the
jurisdiction of the signatory Powers any
warship built on foreign account which
exceeds the size and armament limita-
tions imposed on the five Powers in each
class of ships dealt with. The original
American proposal contemplated COM
plete ban on the building of warships
for foreign account.
A provision Is carried under which
any of the five Powers might order a
warship constructed by firm within the
jurisdiction of any of the other four
Powers, but in that event all Of the
treaty parties must be informed fully as
to details Of construction Of the ship
ordered.
A set of provisions designed to make
treaty to be amended in case Of need or
suspended in the event that one Of the
signatories becomes engaged In naval
was also is presented. On request OF
any. Power, the signatories would agree
to meet and consider amendment OF
changes believed by the requesting
power to be necessary in view OF scien-
tihc or political developments. In the
event of one of the Powers becoming In
volved in a naval war, however, 1t could
suspend its limitation treaty obligations
entirely on giving notice.
In that event the other signatory
Powers agree to meet In conference and
decide what. If any, Of the treaty limita-
tions should remain in force as between
themselves This last provision Is modi-
fed. however, by permission for any
other Power to suspend it's obligations
on notice pending such conference, once
another Power involved in war has IN
itiated the suspension. ~
BY one provision Of the treaty the
duration of the agreement would be
until 1897, or fifteen years. This does
not apply as to the naval holiday. how
ever. for separate item provides that
the ten year building holiday In capital
ships shall apply except for the modi'
fications noted in certain cases such as
the agreement that the British shall
construct two post-Jutland ships to re-
place four old vessels in the original
retained list, and certain exceptions as
to the French and Italian fleets. So faI
as the American and Japanese fleets go
however. the ten year holiday stands
and they would not be able to begin re-
placement construction of capital ships
ii is understood. before 1881.
A separate provision deals with
French and italian replacements Un.
der 1t each nation could lay down one
capital ship year in 1927, 1928 and
| 1929 by way of replacement building
and to absorb the tonnage limitation al
| Yotment in excess of their present fleets
represented in the 49, 900 ton total each
has accepted. In addition a provision is
made for France and Italy to modern
ize old battleships by replacing present
obsolete ~ inch guns with weapons VI
to 16 inch caliber and at the same time
replace present arnor built to with
stand IL inch projectiles with protec-
| ton against 16 inch shells.
Measurement of Tonnage.
Other items in the treaty include tn,
agreement for Standardization Of meas
urement of naval tonnage on the basi.
! Of n 2240 pound ton as the unit, norma
displacement for all navies 10 be calcu
lated in such tons and to be based OF
the weight OF the ship plus the weigh
of her ammunition and consumabl'
stores but without any allowance fol
fuel Il is understood. The equivalent
OF the tonnage measurement stated In
metric tons is TO be given In future
naval lists also.
The treaty also defines for purposes
of the contract what Is meant by wal
ship, but does not seek to define a mer
chant ship nor Is there any specific men
ton of the status Of merchant ships
beyond the stipulation that they shall
not carry guns larger than 6-inch cal
iber.
The Root anti-submarine formula Il
understood to be part OF the treat.
itself. although the document Is 81
closely interviewer with It's numerous
appendices that the declarations ma,
be carried among these along with tn
replacement chart for capital ships
which maps out specific program, shil
by ship, for each navy up to 1941.
n n