Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-09
LIMITING AIRCRAFT
HELD IMPRACTICAL
AT PRESENT TIME

- hLSINl IWL-
Continued from First Page.)
was laid down originally by Secretary
Hughes.
Under the agreement relating to
capital ships the British are allowed
to construct several new vessels, and
to this extent and TO the extent that
the United States must complete new
vessels the principles OF the building
holiday will be infringed upon. The
naval experts have prepared chart
for requirements. showing when they
may be undertaken.
The proposal of the French that
they be allowed to begin replace
mentS in 1927. it is understood. will
not be allowed. but will be Offset by
a provision that France and Italy
may increase the size OF their guns
on their present vessels and increase
the strength of their armor. Under
the proposed treaty capital ships are
limited in SIZE to $4,000 tons and
their guns TO 16-inch. 1t has been
pointed out that neither France nor
Italy at present have vessels of such
size and carrying 16-inch guns.
There was report also in some
quarters that some provisions of the
holiday might extend until 1881
study Five-Power Treaty.
The naval treaty lays down inter
esting rules relating TO the scrapping
OF naval vessels, which under the
treaty must be gotten rid of by the
United States, Great Eritain and ia
pan.
Vessels may be strapped by sink
ing or breaking up, by conversion
TO commercial use, to harbur use. and
may be used for target practice or
for eagoing gunnery practice. 1t is
provided that the Scrapping must he
! Immediate: that is to say. the ma
tions must Immediately remove from
the vessels to be scrapped their guns.
ammunition. torpedpes, and wireless
apparatus. The vessels must be mdae
unit for war purposes without delay.
But the nations. having so rendered
them unfit, may then decide as II
what shall be dong with the hullS,. Il
accordance with the rules laid dCN-:,.
The work of the conference. il ap-
pears, will be contained in four-pow-
err. tivc-power and nine-power treat
les. The first of these. relating TO the
Pacific Islands and eliminating the
| Anglo Japanese alliance. has already
been agreed to. The last Will be the
treaty relating to China and the FAR
east. The drafting of the nine-power
treaty still waits upon important de-
! cisions to be reached in regard to
China and, probably, in regard 10
Siberia
several DaNs DlAeussiou
The draft of the naval Limitation
treaty is likely TO requare day %
! twos consideration by the full com
mittee before il can be approved.
! That being the case, the open pie
nary session of the conference may
; not take place until Thursday. AT
that time, il is possible that Mr.. Bal
| four. head of the British delegation.
and Lord Lee, also a British delegate,
may undertake to discuss the submd-
| rine question. and urge the British
view. which calls for the adjustment
! of undersea naval craft.
! Notwithstanding the fact that the
conference cannot. il appears. wind
up its business by the end of this
week Mr. Baifour and Lord Lee. il
was said today by a British spokes-
men, will have to leave Washington
January l3 or IA. preparatory to sail
| ing for England. Sir Auckland GeddeS.
| British AMBASSADOR and also a MEM
Der of the British delegation, viii be
left here. however, to carry on the
work of the conference.
What Is Merchant Vessel:
The question of what is a merchant
vessel, in view of the rules adopted
by the limitation OF armament COM
mitcee prohibiting submarines from
/ attacking merchant vessels, may yet
| have to be settled by the conference.
| it was said today. The contention OF
i the American delegation has been
! that a merchant vessel IS well de-
/ fined by international law and long
| usage. The British. however, have
! maintained that If the CONSTRUCTION
! of submarines is to continue unre-
! stricted, then they do not propose 10
! leave their merchant craft defense
! less, and are not willing TO agree thai
they shall carry no guns.
| The naval experts. il is understood,
4 II, tta- hsl a a
| tempted to define what is warship,
| which is a backhanded way OF arrir-
| ing at a definition of a merchant
| vessel. But some of the delegates. 1t
| was said today. are DESTROYS OF having
! the matter of a merchant vessel
| settled, and also what caliber of guns,
| if any, a merchantmen may carry
! There will be very great interest.
! naturally, in the nine-power treaty
! relating to China and the far east;
| The backbone of IL undoubtedly VIII
! be the principles laid down IN the
Root resolutions adopted early IN the
! conference and under which the pow.
ers assembled here agree TO respect
) China's territorial integrlty ana APP
| From the point OF view OF the
/ Chinese. this treaty will differ from
many other treaties which have been
! made in regard to that nation, in that
eight powers will agree among them
srlyes to respect China and to help
I! her help herself That being the
[, case. if one of these nations under
| takes any agSressions toward China,
f; China will be in "A position to appeal
/, IN the other seven powers. II all
| outside power seeks to encroach upon
, China. it will be natural even though
| the proposed treaty will not call for
I a defensive alliance, for China to
| seek the good offices of the eight
| mowers which will enter upon this
| treaty with her.
a member of the British dele CATION
| recently described proposed action
of the powers assembled here with
! regard to China as the forming OF
1 nursing ring about China, to give
China every chance to work out hoe
political and economic salvation.