Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-15

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among themselves on the 5-5-3 ratio
basis.
The proposed five.power conference
is not exclusive of the Leagues eff.
forts for disarmament, it was insisted.
1t is supplementary.
1t must be perfectly evident, it was
said at the White House. that II isim-
possible to secure an agreement on
naval limitation IL a lot of smaller
countries, having no navies, or only
small navies, undertake to settle mat
ters affecting the five big naval pow
ers which signed the Washington
treaty. For that reason, it was said,
the President made his suggestion
that the naval Limitation be segregat.
ed from the general arms limitati ton
discussion. 1t is the only practical
method of approaching this question
II is believed here. Indeed, the Presi-
dent is represented as seeing no other
method of securing further naval 1imi-
tation.
Discussion Of the possible effect upon
the naval policy of the United States
was under full swing today, after the
dispa tches from France had been
resd.
Will Strengthen More.
THE natural thing to expect" said
one Senator, who has been opposed to
adding to the cruiser strength of the
United States. and who has supported
the stand taken by the President
against any appropriation for three
new cruisers in the pending naval ap-
preparation bill. lis that with a re-
fusal to enter into an agreement for
the limitation of auxiliary craft. the
proponents Of a big Navy will be
found In stronger position
The feeling here, too. is that If
President Coolidge's plan is turned
down by Fra nce's insistence that the
limitation Of ornaments conference
proceed at Geneva with all the MEM
bers Of the League of Nations par
ticipating and with continued in.
sistence that land, sea and air forces
be limited in one single agreement,
there will be no limitation of arms
growing out of the Geneva confer
ence. The subject is too complex to
be dealt with as a whole; the views
of the nations as to what constitutes
war strength and what properly
comes within the scope Of an agree
ment are too divergent.
The United States Government.
through President Coolidge's pro
posal, it was said. has made a prac-
teal offer for reduction of ornaments
This country has shown it's good faith
in its advocacy of arms limitation. 1t
will continue, doubtless, to engage In
the preparatory conference, which re-
assemblies next month in Geneva. and
in any general conference growing
out of the preparatory gathering. But
whether 1t does or not. the United
States has placed itself in a position
where it cannot be held responsible for
a failure OF arms limitation plan.
Opposition to Continue.
The conferees on the naval appro-
priation bill. with its Senate amend.
ment providing for beginning the con-
structiOn Of the three cruisers au-
thorized in 1924, but for which no ap-
preparations have vet been made. are
expected to meet again tomorrow.
Opposition to the construction of
the cruisers. 1t was explained. will
continue at the Capitol. because the
opponents Of such construction do not
believe that there Is necessity for
building up Il stronger Navy at this
time, because they believe that the
problems Of this country do not call
for 1t.
Necessity has not always been the
prime reason for constructing larger
navies, however" said an opponent of
present building.
Recalls Former Discussions.
"Navies have been built because
some other power or powers were
building war vessels. Probably, IL this
arms conference fails to produce re.
suits. there will be another period of
discussion in the capitals Of the naval
powers similar to that from 1895 TO
1914, when leaders In the English par
lament and I'm the German Reichstag
dema nded inreaSes In naval and mill
tary strength on the theory that
others were preparing for war"
The attitude Of Japan. a. well as
that Of France. as revealed in press
dispat ches. was the subject of COM
ment at the Capitol. The statements
attributed to the Japanese. declaring
that country could not cut her naval
st rencth. were Nariously interpreted.
II was pointed out however, that
Japan had not closed the door to limi-
tation upon t1rther building.