Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-10
TREATY'S Term
IS FIXED AT
FIFTEEN YEARS
Provisions of Naval Treaty
Are Scrutinized by
Delegations
AIRCRAFT UNDECIDED
Six Methods for Scrapping of War
Ships Doomed Under the Agree
ment

Washington, Jan. lU.-Ine teHla-
tive text Of a 15-year treaty for the
limitation Of naval armament and a
1O-year naval holiday among the five
principal naval powers of the world
yesterday went under the separate
scrutiny of the delegations of the
United States, the British Empire,
France, Italy and Japan.
The delegations met each in its own
headquarters to consider the first
draft of the treaty. The heads of the
delegations are to meet to compare
notes today, and it is thought that
Thursday or Friday will see a plen.
ary session at which the treaty will
be given to the world.
Previously, hte Armament Limita-
tions Committee composed of the dele
cations of the five powers, had in
substance accepted the report of an
expert subcommittee on aircraft limi-
tation, deciding it is impracticable at
present to limit aircraft, but agreeing
to designate a commission which will
proceed to revise the rules Of war to
apply them to new agencies of war
fare.
The five power treaty text which
has been formulated by the legal eX-
perts has passed through the hands of
naval advisers and has been submit
ted to the delegations with notations
of points on which the technicians are
not finally agreed is composed OF %
articles and does not exceed 1000
words in length
The treaty is to be in force until
1897 and is subject to suspension only
in case of naval warfare. 1t provides
for naval holiday of 10 years, with
exceptions made in favor Of France
and Italy. The United States. England
and japan are to refrain from all capi-
tai hip building until 1882, except for
the ships the British are permitted to
build and the two the United States
is permitted to complete to balance
Japanese retention of the Mutsu.
France and Italy. however, because
of the age of much of their naval
equipment. are permitted each to lay
down one capital ship in 1927 and to
start construction on another apiece
in 1929.
in addition, because none of their
ships has armament comprising guns
larger than l2-inch caliber and corre-
spending defensive armor, France and
Italy are to be allowed at once to i'm
prove their existing capital ships so
that they may mount l6-inch guns,
the limit agreed upon for armament
in the future, and to equip them for
defense against guns that large.
An annex to the treaty provides
that scrapping of existing and partly
completed ships which are to be junk
ed by the naval limitation agreement
may be accomplished by six methods
sinking, breaking up, conversion to
commercial use, conversion to harbor
use for auxiliary purposes, use as tar
gets or conversion for use as gunnery
training ships.
Scrapping must begin Immediately.
That is, the ships listed for scrapping
must be made at once unfit for war
use.
According to the terms set forth in
the tentative draft, the world is to ex-
periencc in the next 10 years only
this limited construction of capital
ships, instead of continuation of the
costly competition which was in pros
pect until the conference was convened
at Washington:
United States, no construction un-
til 1892, except completion of the Colo
rado and the Washington, now almost
finished.
british Empire, no construction un-
I'll 1857, except construction of two
new supcrdreadnaughts.
Japan no construction until 1892.
France no construction until 1927,
when one ship may be laid down; then
until 1929, when another may be laid
down; and then no more until 1882.
Italy no construction until 1927,
when one ship may be laid down; then
until 1929, when another may be laid
down; and the no more until 1882
Those are the terms of the holiday
from construction of capital fight
ing ships the weapons of offensive
naval warfare General Replacement
construction is not to start until 1929