The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-14
AVOID
NAVAL PROGRAM

Il e~se
Washington, Dec. l3 (By the Asso
clated Press s).-Blunt notice that the
United States can not avoid a new
naval program in swift cruisers and
heet submarines unless treaty limita-
tons are extended to such craft was
served by the house appropriation.
committee today in reporting the
$293,SO6,53S naval appropriation bill
SIX line provision placed in tn
bill by the committee requested Pre- $
ldent Harding to negotiate with
Great Britain, France, Japan and
Italy for such an extension Of the
treaty, limitations Of aircraft to be
included.
The committee report said large
cruiser and submarine programs were
planned abroad, ending: "In other
words, competition is on again in the
single direction to which the unra.i
ned agreement (the Washington ma
val treaty. does not extend, and if it
be allowed to 60 unchecked, the purse
strings again must be relaxed and
thi. government, like all others, will
be constrained to launch a new pro
gram to the extent necessary to keep
up at least abreast Of any of the
other powers.
President Harding was not con
suited by the committee with relation
to its limitation conference request
The project for negotiations ap.
parently came as a surprise even to
naval officials. 1t was originated by
Chairman Kelly of the naval appro-
priations subcommittee. The chief
,eason prompting Mr.. Kelly to pro
rose new naval conference was un-
derstood to have been the light cruis.
er program recommended by the navy
general board. No mention of thi
is included in the published copies OF
committee hearings on the bill. TIL:
"rogram urged, however, as neces
sary to keep the United States navy
en- a parity with other navies ir
cruisers, 16 new light cruisers, withir
the 10000 ton size limitation Of tn,
Washington treaty, and to cost $168,
100000.
The committee also eliminate
from - publiehsa hsaripss testkpopI
= S11l;
lproeram of consfruction a6ro5;
Presumably it was this informatio
and the recommendations as to ne,
construction made by the geners
board, which prompted the attemp
to check post-treaty competitiv
building through diplomatic negotia
tions. Administration officials VIII
were closest to the Washington arm
conference deliberations expresse
lie view tonight that there appeare
little likelihood of success for ney
negotiations to limit in accordanc
with the "5-5-3," or some other ra
tion, the size of cruiser and subma
rine fleets. The conference, it wa
pointed out, in prolonged discussion
had found no basis of agreement pos
sible on these points or as to fightin,
aircraft. The French position at tn
conference in opposition to limiting
submarine fleets, 1t was added
brought a specific reservation b.
British delegates of the right to bull
anti-submarine craft, such as ligh
cruisers and destroyers, without re
strictions save as to the maximum
size of cruisers 10000 tons and limi
tation of the maximum size Of gun
they could carry to eight inc
weapons.
In addition to the new cruiser pre-
gram, the committee Is known t
have been informed Of general board
recommendation that start be mad
on undermining the pre-Jutland bal
tleships of the navy, the point bein
made that Great Britain has alread
remodeled to a large extent to ir
crease gun range and deck protet
tion her capital ships to be rated ur
der the treaty. The American moo
ernization project would cost in tn
! neighborhcod of sso,oo0,000, it ha
been estimated. Lacking such re
modelling work, American IA inc
gun ships would remain outranged b
otherwise similar but modernize
British ships by five miles, navy Of
ficers have declared.
Faced with the double prospect q
heavy naval expenditures in the nea
future, Chairman Kelly turned I
the precedent Of the accepted capit'
ship treaty ratio in search OF wa
to avoid such outlays.
Seven Persons