Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-21
EXPERTS TO STUDY PROPOSALS
SUBMITTED AT NAVAL FARLEY
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spirit. but as showing satisfaction
with her navy's present strength and
willingness to remain in a position
of comparative inferiority in all
classes of auxiliary ships to Great
Britain and the United States.
The British proposal. however, was
regarded unsatisfactory by the Off
Gals here in SO far as they affect uues-
| ference and which the administration
feels should not be discussed at the
present conference because of the alb
sence of two of the signatories of the
| 1922 treaties.
Japan's reply was taken to indicate
that she admits she needs no larger
navy than she now has. The Jana
nese navy at present is on a ratio
of to with England In the matter
of modern cruisers and the same
ratio holds between Japan and the
United States for submarines, while
for destroyers between the two latter
countries. the ratio is about S to IA
Some Proposals Suitable.
The British acceptance of the
5--5-3 ratio for cruisers, the pro-
poSal to reduce destroyers to 1850
! tons for f1otilla leaders and / 400 tons
for destroyers would be completely
suitable to this country since Amer
ica's largest destroyer is 1,215 tons, it
was viewed here. Reduction of sub
marines to 1000 tons would also be
practically immaterial to the United
States, since only the five vi type
submarines are above this tonnage.
Hope was held by State Department
officials that the American naval lin
itation proposal could be blended with
the naval policies of those powers so
as to have the basic principles &C
cepted in fun
They noted. with appreciation, that
the British and Japanese reaction at
the opening session gave no hint of
serious opposition to the proposal
confirming belief here that final agree
ment on details will be possible.
There was little expectancy here
that the suggestion of w. G. Bridge
man. the British delegate, that the
conference turn back to the Washing
ton treaty of 1921. to reduce to 10000
tons the maximum size of capital
ships and to 1875 inches their maxi
mum armament. would be pressed by
Great Britain's representatives.
Want Pact Undisturbed.
Throughout preparations here for
the conference American officials
stressed their desire to leave the
Washington pact undisturbed and
that program was strengthened with
the declaration of France and Italy,
two of the 1921 treaty signatories. TO
participate In the present conference
No binding revision of the treaty
could be effected it was explained
without the participation of those
two countries.
The British proposal to limit future
cruisers to $500 tons with 6-inch
gums, as opposed to the present maxi
mum of 10000 tons and 8-inch guns,
was not expected greatly to disturb
the American delegation. Great
Britain now has 10,000-ton cruisers
to the number of Is in commission,
under construction or authorized and
it was pointed out that she could not
object to the United States building
the same number.
This country now has 10 cruisers
of $500 tons in commission, and if
IS American heavier cruisers were
built only $4,000 tons would remain
TO be accounted for if the proposed
300000-ton total for the class were
accepted.
Under the Gibson proposal either
country could employ the surplus
tonnage in 10,000-ton or smaller craft
and it was not expected that the
United States would seriously object
to limiting the number of the heavier
cruisers so as to leave wider ton
mage margin for the smaller ships.
Needs Larger Submarines.
Bridgeman's recommendation that
future submarines be limited to 1000
tons was expected to offer grounds for
considerable discussion, in view of the
great distance separating continental
United States from It's island posses
sions. The newer type of American
submersibles are larger than 1900
tons and designed for cruising greater
distances than are those needed by
Great Britain, whose colonies are
linked by convenient naval bases.
Comparable data on modern cruiser
strength of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan shows that the
United States has but Is ships of this
type built, building or authorized,
totaling $4,000 tons. while Great Brit
ain has 81, totaling 358 900 tons, and
Japan 20, totaling 196,205 tons.
Ten of the American first line cruis-
ers are Of $500 tons each and were
built since the war, while two more of
10000 tons, the Pensacola and Salt
Lake City, are building, and six of
similar tonnage has been authorized
and appropriated for.
Great Britain has 40 modern cruis.
ers built, totaling 194,290 tons; IL
building. aggregating 10000, and 6,
totaling $4,000, authorized. Japan has
10 built totaling 102 ,005 tons; build