Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-14
NEW CONFERENCE
TO LIMIT WARSH|P
BUILDING IS URGED
House Committee Points to
Costly Naval Compcti-
ton in Progress.
u. S. IS FORCED TO
BUILD LIGHT CRUISERS
Other Nations Have Expanded
Programs for Submarines
as Well.
HARDING CALLED ON To ACT
Congress Report Seeks to Include
Aircraft In Second m.armn-
u. S. IS FORCED TO
BUILD LIGHT CRUISERS
HARDING CALLED on ro Ac,
congress- REPORT Seeks to Include
Aircraft In Second W-armn-
mrnt Program
lRv Assnt-ia.ch prr.,

WASHINGTON. Dec. i3.-Blunt no.
ticc that the United States cannot
avoid new naval program in swift
cruisers and fleet Submarines unless
treaty limitations are extended to
such craft, was served by the House
Appropriations Committee today in
reporting tho Sce3.SOs.53S naval ap-
preparation hill. \ six line provision
placed in the bill by the committee
requested pr.sidcn, Harding to ne
goiiatc with Great Britain. France.
Japan and Italy for such an extcn-
tion-of the treaty: limitation OF air
craft to De included.
Tell, OF Foreign situation.
The committee r"por; said large
cruiser and submarine programs
were planned abroad adding:
''ln other words. competition Is on
again in the single direction 10 which
the unratiacd agreement ,thc Wash
iEgton naval treaty. does not extend.
and IL II b.. allowed To go unchecked.
the purse strings again must be re-
liked and this government. Ike all
others. will be constrained TO launch
a new program to tho extent ncces-
sary TO keep up at least abreast OF
any OF the powers"
President Harding was not con-
suited DN the committee with TtIa-
tion to it's Limitation conference re-
quest. The project for negotiations
apparently came as "a surprise. even
to naval officials. 1t was originated
by Chairman Kelly. OF the Naval APP
propriations subcommittee.
chief Henson For Move.
The chief reason prompting Mr..
Kelly 10 propose a new navel con-
CT nod n IN % I,
tire Light cruiser program recon-
ucnded by tho Navy General Roard.
No mention OF this is included in the
published copies OF committee hear
ings OH the bill The program urged.
however as necessary to keep the
United states navy on a parity with
ether navics in cruisers included six
teen new light cruisers. within the
$4,000 ton size Limitation of the
Washington treaty and 10 cost SlGS. :
900. 900.
The committee also eliminated
from its published hearings tcsti-
mony Of naval Intelligence officers
on the program OF construction
abroad Presumably il was this in
formation and the recommendations
a. Ia the new construction made by
III. general board which prompted
III. attempt To chcck post treaty
competitive. building through diplo-
matte negotiations.
Conference Had Fni1ed.
Administration officials who were
closest to tho Washington arms con-
ference deliberations expressed the
view tonight that there appeared lit
tie likelihood of success for new ne
gotiations To limit In accordance
with the "5-5-3" or some other ratio
the size OF cruiser and submarine
fleets The conference. IL was point
cd out. In prolonged discussions. had
found no basis of agreement possible
on these points or as to lighting air
craft The French position at the
conference in opposition 10 limiting
submarine fleets. II was added,
brought specific reservation by
British delegates of the right to build
antisubmarine craft such as light
cruisers and destroyers without re-
s,riction save as to tho maximum
size OF cruisers. 10000 tons and limi-
tation of the maximum size Of guns
they could carry TO eight-inch weap-
ons.
ships Must lie ModcrnILed.
In addition to the new cruiser pro-
gram. the committee is known to
have been informed OF the general
boards recommendation that a start
Jutland battlcships Of the navy, the
point being made that Great britain
has already remodelcd to n large cx-
tent To increase gun range and deck
protection her capital ships to be re-
;aincd under the treaty. The Amer
lean modcrniZation project Will cost
In the neiHhborhood OF $50, 900. 600. il
has been estimated. Lacking such
rsmodeling work. American fourteen
inch-gun ships would remain out
ranged by otherwise similar but
modernlzed British ships by five
miles, navy officers had declared.
Faced with this double prospect of
heavy naval expenditures in the near
future. Chairman Kelly turned TO the
precedent OF the accepted capital
ship treaty ratio in search Of way
To avoid such outlays.
Request Made to President.
The request to the President will
be placed at the very end OF the
ffty-fve- naval bill. 1t reads:
The President is requested to en-
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