Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-11
ENGLAND AGREES
COND|T|ONALLY TO
us. CRUISER PLAN
British to Accept Tonnage
Figures if Number of Ships
Are Limited.
PACT WOULD PERMIT
NEEDED SMALL CRAFT
Plenary Session Scheduled for To.
day Delayed in Tribute to
Slain Irish Official.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
GENEVA, Switzerland, July H.
What was regarded as a significant
change in the British attitude toward
the cruiser problem was evident this
afternoon when ii was announced in
authoritative British circles that if
Great Britain and the United States
could agree to limit the number of
10.000-ton cruisers to about 10, Great
Britain would be prepared to accept
the American maximum total tonnage
figure of 100000 tons.
The idea bac kof this plan was that
il only a small proportion of tonnage
were expended upon on the larger
cruisers, Great Britain would have
enough tonnage left to maintain the
number Of small cruisers which she
regarded as necessary for the need
of the empire.
Gibson Hears of Plans.
w. c. Bridgeman, first lord of the
admiralty and head of the British
delegation, conferred with Hugh Glib
son, head of the American delegation,
at American headquarters this after
noon concerning all aspects of the
situation. On leaving Mr.. Bridge
man was asked whether he could
make any statement. He answered
jocularly: II can't speak in the
Americans hotel. 1t is outside my
territory"
The tragic death of the Irish states
man, Kevin O'Higgins, yesterday has,
by some strange destiny of events,
served to prevent an immediate col
lapse of the tri-partite naval confer
ence.
Out of respect to the memory of Mr..
O'Higgins, who was present at Ge-
neva only last week as the representa-
tive at the conference of the Irish
Free State, the delegates today de-
cided to postpone Indefinitely the
plenary public session. which had been
requested by w. c. Bridgman. head
of the British delegation. Mr.. Bridge
man had asked for the meeting in or
der to give the British delegation an
opportunity to restate it's position on
the cruiser problem, to clear up what
ask series of questions of the Ameri.
can delegation.
Feared Debate Session.
Today's projected session had been
considered potentially filled with dan
ger. The American delegation did
not desire it because it believed that
little good could be achieved by a
public debate of this nature. The
Americans were ready, however, to
answer any of the questions which
the British might PROFOUND and might
even have asked a few questions
themselves.
1t is understood that the japanese,
like the Americans, looked with some
apprehension upon the projected ses-
sion because of the risk that things
would be said which might provoke
the blow up" of the conference.
Late last night, the British, pre-
sumably as the result of some Off
cial word from London, suggested to
Hugh Gibson, head of the American
delegation, that the meeting be post
poned. Mr.. Gibson answered that
as the British had requested the ses-
sion. it is they who should assume
the responsibility and initiative of
having it called off.
Break Avoided by Death.
This reply resulted in no action and
virtually all of the delegates to the
conference spent a sleepless night as
result, for all knew that the con-
ference was on the brink of
precipice.
Mr.. Bridgeman had explained that
Great Britain's proposal to confine
the treaty to an arrangement con-
corning building programs was worth
serious study and that under the cir
cumstances it was perhaps unneces-
sary to go on with the public meet
ings. Mr.. Bridgeman finally decided
to convoke the meeting of the British
and Dominion delegates this morning
to take some final stand and it was
just before this meeting opened that
official announcement was received
that Mr.. O'Higgins had been assas-
Sinated.
The next development of an anxious
forenoon was a telephone call from
the headquarters of the American
delegation, communicating Mr.. Glib
sons assumption that in view Of the
death of the Irish minister, the British
would prefer to cancel the public ses-
sion. If this was the case, the mes
sage said, Mr.. Gibson was entirely of
the opinion that it should be done,
and, indeed hoped that it would be, as
tribute to Mr.. O'Higgins.
The American initiative was deeply
appreciated in British circles, and
soon afterward an official communique
stating that the plenary session sched-
uled for today had been indefinitely
postponed, was made public.
Saves Awkward Situation.
The general opinion voiced at
Geneva was that the death of the Irish
leader had saved the British from an
awkward situation, from which they
were seeking to extricate themselves,
and. what was even more important.
had saved the conference from a pos.
sible rupture.
The British proposal which was to
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