Evening star., 1927-06-22
U. S. AND JAPANESE
DELEGATES DEBATE
ISSUES PRIVATELY

ISSUES PRIVATELY
Continued from First Page.)
undoubtedly involve the scrapping of
American destroyers because Of their
superior numbers. the head of the
Japanese delegation declared that by
the transfer of destroyer tonnage
American cruiser power could be
brought up to meet any American re-
quirements.
Would Keep Own Strength.
But Saito emphasized that Japan
wanted to keep her existing or con-
tracted-for strength in cruisers, num-
bering 80, with a total tonnage of 200,-
600. 1t is evident that on these fig
ures the United States would be
obliged to possess eventually some 80
high powered cruisers Of 10000 tons
each, if it desired to keep the parity
of 5-5--3, which was fixed at the
Washington conference for battleships.
The admiral admitted that the Japa.
nese plan allowed the construction of
small submarines without limit, but
contendetf that these We're purely for
the defense of Japan's extensive island
coast lines.
Even naval experts are having diff
Guilty in their efforts to understand
the exact meaning OF the respective
plans.
Despite the heat, the leaders de-
clined to get excited. Admiral Wis
count Saito is unperturhed, calm and
meditative, as if sitting in his Jap
anese garden in the outskirts of Toxic
The first lord of the British admiral
ty. w. c. Bridgeman. is approach
able. and with placid British convic-
ton in the fairness and righteousness
of all things British. cadidly discuss
es the virtues of the British plan.
Mr.. Gibson refuses to abandon his
smiling optimism, while Admiral Earl
Jellicoe and Vice Admiral Sir Fred
erick Field. receiving the correspond
ents, reiterated the British belief that
the adoption of their plan would
tighten the burden of the taxpayer
and earnestly contended that the Brit
ish proposal was not blow at the
Washington treaty, but really en-
bodied a commendable attempt to do
things now which must be accom-
plished at the second Washington
conference to be held in 1881.
Admiral Field Explains.
AS evidence OF the confusion in the
air concerning the exact meaning of
the various projects, Admiral Field
told the press representatives that
the japanese plan would give the
United States only Is cruisers. as
against % for Japan and 81 for Great
Britain. Thus the British admiralty.
as represented at Geneva, seems to be
of the Japanese intention, as
disclosed to the Associated Press. to
allow the United States to trans
fer destroyer strength into cruiser
strength.
Admiral Field tried to ridicule the
American contention that fast mer-
chantmen like the Mauretania could
be converted into powerful auxiliary
cruisers under the British plan by
6-inch guns.
why" he said, "They would
merely be eggshell targets for any
type of modern cruiser armed with
guns of equal caliber."
But this quick dismissal of the i'm.
portance of swift merchantmen is not
accepted by the Americans. who in
sist anew that the British plan to re-
duce the size Of cruisers would take
the teeth out of the American Navy,
and for American purposes would rem
der the American Navy impotent.
During his talk with the CORE
spondent, Viscount Saito upheld the
American view that armed merchant
men constitute units seriously 10 be
reckoned with in any naval complla-
tions. Countries with fast liners. he
said, had an advantage, as these YES
sells could be transformed into special
cruisers which would be dangerous
of regular warships.
VIII Draft Definitions.
For the new few days the main task
Of the conference will be to. agree on
definitions. While the projects of the
three participating powers were all
presented in the English language. it |
is felt there is difference Of views as
TO what some of the terms employed,
particularly technical ones, actually
convey to all the delegates. This busi-
ness of finding common working
is not expected to take
long. as the members of the technical
committee are all seasoned naval
men who prefer blunt unmistakable
terms to the nuances Of diplomatic
Rear Admiral Schofield and Capt.
Andrews and Capt. Smyth represent
the United States on this drafting
body. Once its work is completed the
three propositions will be re.examined
in the light of the acquired compre-
hension of each delegation's exact IN
tent. It is the expressed wish or Mr..
Gibson that all committee sessions
shall be- as elastic and informal as pos
sible so as to satisfy everybody and
hasten the work on the theses sub
mitted.
BRITISH PRESS SKEPTICAL.