Evening star., 1927-06-22
FAITH EMPHASIZED
IN 5-5-3 PRINCIPLE
American Proposal for Aux
iIiary Craft Based on Best
Judgment.

The faith of the American Govern
ment in it's proposal for further naval
limitation at the Geneva three-power
conference was emphasized at the
State Department today. This pro-
posal, which extends the principle of
the 5-5-3 ratio adopted for capital
ships and aircraft carriers at the
Washington conference to auxiliary
craft, is the best judgment, it was
said. of the naval authorities as well
as of the State Department. Further
more, it had the approval Of President
Coolidge. ANY inclination in British
or other quarters not to take the pro-
poSal seriously would be a mistake,
it was clearly intimated.
No take it or leave it" attitude is
assumed by the American officials.
The early stages of an international
conference. from which much Is
hoped, could scarcely be aided by an
ultimatum. But efforts in Europe.
some of them through the press. to
belittle the American proposal and to
make it appear that it was not put
forward with every intention of back
ing it up have caused a desire that
the American position should be made
clear. .The American plan, it was
said, should be the basis for any
agreement finally entered into.
Best Judgment of L.. s.
The proposal advanced by the Amer
lean delegation, it was said. is the best
judgment of the authorities of this
country as to the tonnage needed for
national defense.
The State Department was still
awaiting cabled views of Ambassador
Hugh Gibson, head of the American
delegation, regarding the British and
Japanese proposals, 1t is believed at
the department that Mr.. Gibson will
withhold his opiAion of the proposals
until he has fully studied them and
amplified his information regarding
them by personal conference with the
British and Japanese, and with the
american naval experts.
Notwithstanding the wide diverg-
ence in the proposals of the United
States, Great Britain and Japan,
there continues a feeling of optimism
here that an agreement will be work
ed out at Geneva which will be salts
factory and do justice to the three
naval powers. The British, it is be-
heved, will not insist upon opening
up the agreements entered into at the
Washington conference relating to
capital ships and aircraft carriers,
with particular reference to the ac-
cepted age, size of these vessels and
the calibre of guns they shall carry.
No little satisfaction is reported over
the acceptance by the British of the
SIS ration in regard to the 10 900
cruisers. The British proposal to limit
the size of destroyer leaders to 1850
tons and of destroyers to 1 400, Is not
regarded as seriously affecting the
American Navy, since none of its de-
stroyers now are over 1,215 tons.
1000 Tons Sub Limit.
The same may be said of the British
proposal to limit submarines to 1000
tons, since only five American suhma
rines are in excess of that tonnage.
The Japanese proposal for a naval
holiday, leaving the status quo in ma
val strength, is regarded as concilia.
tory, since it admits the need of no
larger navy by Japan. 1t was pointed
out that Japan by such a proposal
agrees to inferiority in all classes of
auxiliary craft, either to Great Britain
Japan stands in the. ratio of 3 to
as compared to Great Britain, al
though in modern cruisers she will
surpass the United States in tonnage.
In destroyers, Japan stands in the
ratio of IL to as compared to the
United States, and in the matter of
submarines, In the ratio of to S, as
compared to the United States. Japan,
however, has a naval program under
way which will considerably strength.
en- her in both submarines and de.
Stroyers,