Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-02
LONDON FORMALLY
OPPOSES ELEVATION
Of AMERICAN GUNS

LONDON, July 30.-(By the Asso-
| GATED Press. 1.-THE british govern
! ment has made representations to
| the governments of the United States
and japan that the alteration of the
! elevations of guns on capital war YES
ssls or expenditures for the purpose
Of increasing the radius of action OF
these guns would be, in the opinion
Of the British government, breach
of the Washington convention.
This declaration was made in the
house of commons today by Arthur
Ponsonby. under secretary for for
eign affairs, in answer to a ques-
TONER who asked whether any rer'
reservations on this point had been
made to any of the signatures OF
the Washington convention;
PROTEST BRINGS TO HEAD
OLD NAVAL CONTROVERSY
WASHINGTON, July 30.-tBy the
Associated Press.)--Great Britain .
representations against the snip
| modernizat.on program of the Amerl'
! can navy may bring to a head at
| last a controversy that has stirred
naval circles here almost continue
ously since TIE adjournment of the
| arms conference.
| State department officials de-
| clined today to comment on the Lon
don announcement of the British
move or to indicate what the policy
| of this government would be. They
gave the impression that the ques-
ton was one Of such importance that
very careful study of the whole
subject would be necessary btSKe
the United States made it's reply 80
| London.
In some quarters it was regarded
as unlikely that Aany decision would
be made before the return from Eu.
rope of Secretary Hughes, and con.
ference between him and President
| Coolidge. Mr.. Hughes personally
conducted the work of the Ameri'
can delegation at the Washington
conference upon whose findings the
British representation are based.
A ship modernization program, In.
| Guiding a change in elevation Of the
main batteries of first line warships
was recommended to congress by
President Harding in December, 1922.
In an accompanying memorandum
Secretary DENLY declared the work
| proposed was of major and vital
importance" in national defense and
it was pointed out by naval officers
during consideration of the ques.
ton in congress that many of TIE
first line British fighting ships al
ready had gun ranges comparable to
those requested for the American
navy.
| The appropriation asked for was
granted, but objection of an infor.
mai character came from British
quarters, and in April of last year
ire navy department announced that
the modernization program would be
deferred for the time being. At the
same time it was reiterated that
navy officials did not regard the
proposed alterations as a violation
or the Washington treaty and that
the delay was due only to a belief
mat congress, in appropriating Sc.
ooo,O00 to carry out tie gun eleva.
ton project, might have acted UNI
der a misrepresentation.
So that all the fact nights he do.
Veloped, an intensive study of the
WEole subject was ordered last sum.
ilef and as a result Secretary Den.
by renewed in his annual report IL ST
december the recommendation for
q gun elevation appropriation.
| which he declared Twill not in any.
| way contravene the spirit or letter
or the treaty." Accompanying the
secretary's report wa sa statement
| by Captain r. II. Schofield of the
navy general board supporting that