Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-20
For Abolition If
Powers Reach
Agreement.
PROPOSES TO SCRAP
LARGE TONNAGE
Cruiser, Destroyer, and
Undersea Limits
Asked.
Rr the Associated Press.

new threc-poWer naval arms confer
.ence today, Hugh Gibson, heading
the American delegation, called for
an extension of the 5-5--3 ratio tt
submarines, cruisers and destroycrs
and gave notice to the delegates tha
the United States had held up it!
building program i'll the hope of al
early agreement on naval limitation
He also said that if it "shoult
eventually be possible to reach ;
general agreement between all nava
powers to abolish submarines, tht
United States would not be unfavor-
able to its consideration. but that
such action in order to be acceptable
must be universal.
Asks Curb on Building.
Mr. Gibson's remarks. directed at
the delegates representing Great
Britain and Japan. did not disclose
in direct terms what the United
States would do should the confer
ence fail of satisfactory results. The
American delegate did point out,
however, that President Coolidge had
opposed a cruiser building program
because of his hope that general limi-
tation would be possible.
The American policy, Mr.. Gibson
said was wholly guided by the desire
for adequate defense, and he expressed
the hope that further competitive ma
val building could be obviated.
I'VE are prepared to discuss the
question of tonnage fully and frankly.
in the light of our legitimate needs,
he said, adding that if Great Britain
should bring forth a plan to make the
limitations even more. drastic than he
had proposed, the United States was
prepared to discuss their plans.
Opening the conference, called by
President Coolidge. Ambassador Hugh
Gibson. the chairman, proposed that
cruisers be limited to tonnage of $780,
900 or 100000 tons for the United
States and Great Britain and to 10000
or 10000 tons for Japan.
Other Limits Suggested.
DESTROYER total tonnage would be
restricted to 100000 or 250,000 tons for
the two larger powers and to 10000
10 1OU,uVU lOI JdDrii tOi
mage for American and British sub
marines would be go, 900 to 10000 tons
with SO 900 to 54 900 tons fixed for ia
pan.
1t was understood that under the
Gibson proposal the United States
would be obliged to scrap approxi-
mately 62 900 tons of cruisers and de-
stroyers. mostly of the latter class.
and so. 600 tons additional upon COM
pletion of cruisers now building.
Old ships, virtually obsolete, of
which the Amer ican Navy has many,
would he scrapped to make room for
the new ones. Under the plan. it was
expected that Great Britain, as she
completes her present building pro-
gram, would scrap approximately 5S,'
900 tons of cruisers and Japan, 10000
tons.
While neither Japan nor Great Brit
ain would be required to scrap sub
marines under the proposal, the
United States would have an excess of
about $500 tons of submersibles to be
scrapped.
Urges Smaller Battleships.
Reduction in the size of battleships
of the future from the present limit
of So 900 tons to under 10000 tons
was recommended by w. c. Bridge
man. first lord of the admiralty, Great
Rritain's representative at the naval
conference, who thus opened matters
which had been settled by the WASH
ington conference.
Mr. Bridgman advocated liml'lne
the size of individual submarines tt
600 tons He also suggested max
ing the life of battleships 26 lnsteac
of 20 years, and that the three powers
waive their rights under the replace
ment tables agreed upon at Wash
ington.
The British delegate further pro
posed limiting the size of all future
cruisers to $500 tons and their arma
ment TO 6-inch guns, this limitation
was effective after an agreement wa:
reached on the number of 10,000-toi
cruisers the powers will build.
Mr.. Bridgeman recommended limita
tion of the aircraft carriers to 25,00t
tons displacement instead of $1,000
reduction of guns on aircraft carriers
from s inches to 6, and reduction
of guns on battleships from 16 inches
to 1875.
Admiral viscount Minoru Saito
speaking for Japan, proposed tha
auxiliary naval strength should b.
based on the tonnages existing il
effective ships, including those unde
construction or authorized. and tha
none of the three powers shall, durin.
an agreed period, adopt new building
programs or acquire ships for tn
purpose of increasing naval strength.
Expresses COOlidse's Gratitude.
Gibson presented his proposal afte
brief address. in which he presente
an expression of gratitude to the pow
ers from President Coolidge, and d.
clared that "the United States is PR
pared TO accept a general prograI
providing for as low a total tonnage
as acceptable to the other powers.
lie expressed regret that Franc
and italy were not active participant
in the conference, and urged Japa
and Great Britain. who, with III
United States, are the powers 'whic
now lead in naval armaments," to a
sumo ''all responsibility for initiatn
further naval limitation" If "
were not prepared to limit" he sal
1--WE could not expect others to do so
Under the Gibson proposal, II
10000 tons maximum weight fl
cruisers would be accepted with arm
ment not exceeding 8-inch guns. ID
stroyers would be defined as not c
ceeding 900 tons end of speed great
than II knots
other auxiliary ships of limited COZ
\ III 4